The New York Times just published an excellent article (read it here!) about a new study which shows that lymph node surgery for breast cancer is not always necessary. This is really important stuff because doctors have been removing lymph nodes for over a hundred years with the belief that it will help stop the spread of the cancer, or even prevent it from coming back.
Now, researchers are saying that women who have their lymph nodes removed are at no more of an advantage than those who don’t. In fact, removing the nodes seems to serve more bad than good:
…women in the study who had the nodes taken out were far more likely (70 percent versus 25 percent) to have complications like infections, abnormal sensations and fluid collecting in the armpit. They were also more likely to have lymphedema.
Later, it talks a little more about lymphedema, saying:
After armpit surgery, 20 percent to 30 percent of women develop lymphedema, Dr. Port said, and radiation may increase the rate to 40 percent to 50 percent. Physical therapy can help, but there is no cure.
Hopefully this will help prevent more cases of lymphedema, as well as ensure a more comfortable and successful recovery for these women. This makes me very optimistic for the future of cancer treatment, although my heart goes out to those who have had the lymph node surgery only to develop lymphedema as a result.
What do you think, lymphies? What does this mean for cancer treatment? What does this news mean to you?
Well, one thing it tells me is that the folks who talk about “complications like infections, abnormal sensations and fluid collecting in the armpit” (or whatever area is affected), and separate that from mention of lymphedema, have something to learn about lymphedema…since those “complications” are among its features, signs and symptoms! I’ll have to find that article in the NY Times and see if this is just a problem with editing or an indication of something more serious; it would bother me if someone with one or more of those “complications” didn’t know how important it was to get an expert’s opinion. Do you know the date of the article?
Yes – it’s from this February. Here’s the link to the full article: http://www.nytimes.com/2011/02/09/health/research/09breast.html?_r=1&pagewanted=1&ref=general&src=me
Hope that helps!
Today, I went to the beachfront with my kids. I found a
sea shell and gave it to my 4 year old daughter and said “You can hear the ocean if you put this to your ear.” She put the shell to her ear and screamed.
There was a hermit crab inside and it pinched her ear. She
never wants to go back! LoL I know this is completely off topic but I had to
tell someone!
Although you will find times every time a plaintiff can make which way
they manage to get thier payment, be it an organized settlement or
a one time, which is good for you, nevertheless, you still want to choose what will likely
be best for you in the long run. Fortunately it’s possible to trade most types
of structured settlements for any one-time payment.