Lymph nodes explained: Location, function, swelling and cancer connection
When people get sick with a cold or sore throat, they often say, ‘My glands are swollen.’ What they’re really referring to are the lymph nodes in their neck.
Lymph nodes are small, bean-shaped structures that are part of your lymphatic system. They work within your immune system as a filter to help fight off infection, disease and potentially harmful foreign substances.
Here, I’ll share more about lymph nodes, including...
Can better breathing habits improve your health?
Breathing is not something most of us think about regularly. It’s just something we do, day in and day out, and it happens all the time without...
Austin breast cancer survivor: Why I went to UT MD Anderson for lymphedema treatment
I was diagnosed with stage II breast cancer in April 2019, after noticing a lump in my right breast between screening mammograms. I thought...
Manual lymph drainage: What to know about exercises for lymphedema relief
Lymphedema is the build-up of a protein-rich fluid in your arms or legs due to a disturbance in your lymphatic system.
Worldwide, its most common cause is an internal parasite transmitted by mosquitoes. Very rarely, it can be due to a birth defect. But in the United States, lymphedema is usually the result of surgery, radiation therapy and certain types of chemotherapy or immunotherapy used to treat breast cancer. ...
Edema and cancer: 8 questions answered
Edema is the abnormal accumulation of fluid in body tissue. It happens when the fluid that would normally stay in the bloodstream leaks out...
Surgical lymphedema treatment: 8 things to know
Lymphedema is a side effect of cancer treatment that can cause swelling in the arms and legs. It happens when lymphatic fluid doesn’t drain...
6 advances in breast cancer diagnosis and treatment
Breast cancer remains one of the two most-common types of cancer in the world, according to the World Health Organization. It’s the fifth-leading...
What is lymphedema? Understanding this common cancer treatment side effect
Lymphedema is a common cancer treatment side effect that can cause swelling in a patient’s arm or leg. It may lead to discomfort, pain and...
Lymphedema-relieving surgery keeps triathlete in the race
On Oct. 28, Mary Lindimore crossed the finish line of the IRONMAN Waco 70.3 triathlon. Alongside her was Cheryl Pfennig, the MD Anderson advanced...
Why I waited 10 years to have breast reconstruction
Maybe I’m a late bloomer. After being diagnosed with triple-negative inflammatory breast cancer (IBC) in August 2007, I had a double mastectomy...