Breast Cancer Side Effects: Lymphedema
Pay close attention to your body
As a breast cancer survivor, it is incredibly important to pay attention to any subtle changes in your body that could indicate infection or disease. Lymphedema is one of those subtle side effects that are easy to brush off, but it's incredibly important to seek treatment. Untreated lymphedema can lead to cellulitis, staph infections, sepsis from infection, and blood clots. Your body has an incredible knack for letting you know when something isn’t working properly, and it’s your job to listen to these signs and seek treatment when necessary.
You wouldn’t drive a car with a flat tire or without breaks, or push a shopping cart that’s missing two wheels, so don’t ignore your body and it’s signals that something is wrong.
References
http://www.breastcancer.org/treatment/lymphedema
http://www.breastcancer.org/treatment/lymphedema/signs
https://www.medicinenet.com/lymphedema/article.htm#what_does_lymphedema_look_like_pictures