Relationship between Cancer and Lymphedema

Relationship between Cancer and Lymphedema

Through lymphatic education and Research Network of which Paul Gleit is a supporting member, we have been able to know that the lymphatic system is the one that carry out transportation of the white blood cells that immune the body against infection. The white blood cells ensure the body system is healthy all the time. It is thus imperative that the system is looked into and ensure it does its stated job of preventing many forms of diseases.

The lymphatic system immunes the body against chronic diseases such as cancer and where the system is not functioning properly or has been damaged at any part of the body due to surgery or radiation exposure, the system can become an agent that aid the spread of the same diseases it immunes the body from.

The lymphatic system comprises both organs and tissues of the body and is interwoven together. The white blood cells are contained in a fluid called the lymph and it is the lymph that provides the flow of the white blood cells to all parts of the body through the lymph vessels. Through lymphatic disease education, we have known that the lymph nodes are those glands that are formed inside the lymph vessels. It is these lymph glands that the white blood cell uses with the assistance of the spleen (an organ) to immune and fight infections. It is also this same system that maintains the overall fluids of the body.

Similar to anything that is called system, the lymphatic system also can malfunction or not working well like it is expected to do. The lymph in the vessels may start to build bigger nodes, which will begin to enlarge the vessels and subsequently cause inflammation, or swelling at the area, the lymph nodes accumulate. It is this swelling that is referred to lymphedema or lymphatic disease. The lymphatic disorder can result into more infections and flow of the fluid will be blocked. In some cases, this disease can cause cancer.

Having good knowledge of the lymphatic system will pave way into knowing some chronic diseases and how they usually thrive in the body. The system is somehow related to the cause of arthritis, AIDS (Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome) spread and many other infections. Through lymphatic disease education, people will be able to know the different functions of the lymphatic system, diseases attributed to it and when to know if the system is working well.

Some forms of cancer, most especially the ovarian, prostrate, melanoma, and breast cancers can cause lymphedema if they are not treated well. Any patient who has successfully carried out cure of cancer of the head and neck by means of axillary lymph node surgery or radiation exposure will definitely get lymphatic disorder. People who are physically distressed also have the tendency of contracting this chronic disease.

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