Lymphedema signs and symptoms

[Text on screen: The James
The Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center
Lymphedema signs and symptoms

[Music playing]

[Text on screen: Roman Skoracki, MD
Division Chief, Oncologic Plastic Surgery
OSUCCC - James]

Roman Skoracki, MD: Early signs of lymphedema would be heaviness or tightness in the tissues in the area that lymphedema may develop. Much of what we do is to educate patients before a surgery and before treatment of what those signs and symptoms may be. And that, for the upper extremity for example, may be a little tightness in the back of the upper arm, it may affect the hand, it may affect the forearm, but that heaviness and tightness are very, very early symptoms. Patients may also notice an indentation to their arm, for example, as they rest the arm on an arm rest in a chair, and that would be what we call pitting edema. And so that's a slightly later stage already for lymphedema. If there is an indent, patients may be familiar with the indent that's left by a sock, for example, of the lower extremity, those would be signs that there may be lymphedema.

[Text on screen: The James
The Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center
For more information, visit:
cancer.osu.edu]

[Music ends]