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Drinking alcohol and lymphedema?

Page last modified on: September 8, 2008
Question from Kay: Is alcohol a 'no-no' if you are susceptible to lymphedema?
Answers —Saskia Thiadens, R.N.: My experience with patients and alcohol is that wine definitely seems to increase the edema. In the morning, it feels heavy and fuller, and wine seems to have an impact, but hard liquor doesn't. This is what I've heard from my patients.
Sara Cohen, O.T.R./L., C.L.T.-L.A.N.A.: I agree. Anecdotally, patients have said that wine can cause an increase in swelling.
Marisa Weiss, M.D., president and founder: It's very important to keep on living your life and enjoying your life along with good food and wine in moderation if that is something that you enjoy. Sorting through patient stories requires very careful listening, because it may be that along with the wine, you also had a lot of other rich foods that particular evening, and a lot of extra salt in the foods you've eaten. So sometimes it's hard to figure out what of all the things you did or ate may have been the thing or combination of things that may have led to an increase in swelling.
Saskia Thiadens, R.N.: I suggest in conjunction with all the rich food and wine to continue to increase water intake.

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-LANASara 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.

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