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Lymph fluid re-routed? Helped by physical activity?

Page last modified on: August 20, 2008
Question from JPP: Does the body find a way to re-route drainage of lymph fluid after ALL lymph nodes are removed from under one arm? Does physical activity encourage this?
Answers —Linda Miller, P.T.: Yes, there are actually several different routes by which the arm drains. Not all of those drainage points actually go through the axilla. So there are alternative routes through which the arm can drain. Exercise and physical activity does increase lymphatic flow.
Kristin Brill, M.D., F.A.C.S.: It encourages other pathways to compensate for what was removed.

On Wednesday, May 21, 2008, our Ask-the-Expert Online Conference was called After Surgery: Short-term and Long-term Effects. Kristin Brill, M.D., F.A.C.S. and Linda Miller, P.T. answered your questions about short-term and long-term side effects of breast surgery, and what you can do about them.

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

Kristin Brill, M.D., F.A.C.S. is a breast surgeon and clinical instructor at the Thomas Jefferson University Department of Surgery in Philadelphia, PA. She also maintains a practice in Cherry Hill, N.J. Dr. Brill is a fellow of the American College of Surgeons. In addition, she has published breast cancer research in medical journals such as Annals of Plastic Surgery and Cancer, and she has presented research at the American Society of Clinical Oncology.

Linda Miller, P.T. is the clinical director of the Breast Cancer Physical Therapy Center, LTD, a private practice serving the Philadelphia, PA and southern New Jersey areas. Linda specializes in treating post-operative complications of breast cancer surgery, including lymphedema.

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