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Medications worsen lymphedema?

Page last modified on: September 8, 2008

Question from Mikki: Are there any known medications that can worsen lymphedema? I had trouble with Celebrex.: Answer —Marisa Weiss, M.D., Breastcancer.org president and founder: Every person is unique. You may discover when you take a medication that it may affect you, even if it's not a well-described side effect of that medication. If you take a medication and it seems to aggravate the problem, then talk to your doctor about your concern over this side effect. Tamoxifen can increase the risk for blood clots, primarily in your legs, but it can also happen in other parts of your body, including your arms. When a blood clot occurs, there can be associated swelling that is a result of back-up of the veins, rather than a primary back-up of lymphatic fluid. This is a well-described but thankfully rare side effect of tamoxifen. There are no other specific medications that we are aware of that are known to increase the risk of lymphedema.

On Wednesday, July 17, 2002, our Ask-the-Expert Online Conference was called Arm Lymphedema Prevention and Management. Sara Cohen, O.T.R./L., C.L.T.-L.A.N.A., Saska Thiadens, R.N. and Marisa Weiss, M.D. answered your questions about preventing and managing arm lymphedema.

The materials presented in these conferences do not necessarily reflect the views of Breastcancer.org. A qualified healthcare professional should be consulted before using any therapeutic product or regimen discussed. All readers should verify all information and data before employing any therapies described here.

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Meet the Experts

Sara Cohen, OTR/L, CLT-LANA Sara Cohen, O.T.R./L., C.L.T.-L.A.N.A. is an occupational therapist at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center in New York City, where she works with patients who have had breast cancer and lymphedema.

Saskia Thiadens, R.N. is a nurse and the founder and executive director of the National Lymphedema Network (NLN), a non-profit organization providing education and guidance to health care professionals and women affected by lymphedema.

Marisa Weiss, M.D. is a radiation oncologist specializing in breast cancer and the founder, president, and guiding force behind Breastcancer.org.

Breastcancer.org is a non-profit organization dedicated to providing information and community to those touched by this disease. Learn more about our commitment to providing complete, accurate, and private breast cancer information.

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