Lymphedema in other limbs?

[loridun]

I have been having some painful swelling in my left foot for approximately 3 weeks.  My doctors have ruled out a blood clot (am on Tamoxifen) as well as some metabolic problems as all the bloodwork on a metabolic screen came back within normal ranges.  I have no explanation for this swelling, and while it never goes away, it is much more severe at times.  Putting it in a tennis shoe and exercising actually seems to help it.  Does anyone know if it is possible to develop lymphedema in a limb other than the one where you know you have a compromised lymph system?  I had 30 right axillary lymph nodes removed and biopsied last year.  Any insight would be so very appreciated.

[japdip]

It is true that Lymphedema can occur in the lower limbs but from your description the swelling doesn't seem to be LE. This shouldn't occur from axillary node dissection.  Swelling, due to fluid retention, of the feet and ankles is one of the side effects of Tamoxifen you know. Has anyone mentioned this as a cause of your problem ?   Regards ....

[katarina777]

I agree with japdip and very much suspect that your pain and swelling is from the Tamoxifen. i should also happen that something similar happened to me after I was put on Tamoxifen, and EVERY doctor denied the connection. (or at least didn't believe there was a connection) But since then I have heard of so many people having these problems with the Aromatose Inhibitors, that I am convinced my problems were related to the hormonal treatment.

First, I had serious pain and swelling in my right knee and I never injured it. I had an x-ray and was also tested for blood clots and this came back just fine. blood tests were also normal except for a very low VitD level and which you should also have checked as this is often very low in cancer patients and I believe that taking Vit D supplements helped improve the condition.
Anyway, I was sent my good results along with smiley faces, as if I should be so happy that all was normal and therefore just in my mind.

but I told my doctor that I was not happy at all as I was absolutely sure something serious, very serious was wrong, and absolutely sure it would show up with proper testing. So i had a bone scan and my knee showed a huge white lesion. then I had an MRI and I was diagnosed with osteonecrosis, and the end of the femur closest to the knee was actually dying.
It was so painful, my knee, I was unable to walk. (with me, though, this happened all suddenly)

Then came my hands and especially with the right hand, my fingers became swollen and I got a serious case of 'trigger finger', all also very painful and I was no longer able to use my right hand very well and my whole arm was very weak.
Again, it took forever to diagnose and I also thought it was lymphedema but it wasn't.

About a months ago I had surgery for this problem.

Then I was switched to an aromatose Inhibitor because I am now post menopausal and the first drug i tried, Arimidex immediately triggered my knew and hand again, and lots of other things, like major depression, that was so severe I had to quit. Then my oncologist put me on Femara, a drug in the same family, and I was terrified to even try it, but I did.

I have been tolerating that quite well and none of the horrible symptoms, at least not at this point.

I hope this helps? kat

[loridun]

Thank you both for your input.  As you suspected, doctors are not saying that there is a connection between my symptoms and the Tamoxifen.  I have now been referred to a cardiologist for consult to make sure that the Adriamycin did not damage my heart.  Doctors are baffled but feel sure it is not a blood clot, which seems to be the biggest worry.  The physical therapist who treated my arm for a while (lymphedema) says that if I have lymphedema in my foot, there is not connection to the axillary dissection.  I could just be so lucky as to develop primary lymphedema there in addition to the secondary lymphedema in my arm!  Again, thank you for your comments!