It had been seven weeks since her surgery and Marlene was One function of the lymphatic system is to help return still feeling the effects of the lumpectomy, axillary dissection interstitial fluid to the venous circulation. Removal of lym(removal of armpit lymph nodes), and radiation therapy. When phatic tissues, such as the lymph nodes that were excised the doctor had told her she had breast cancer, Marlene's world during Marlene's lumpectomy, can compromise fluid drainage. was turned upside down; she was only 57 years old, healthy In Marlene's case, inadequate drainage of her upper limb is proand active. Her initial shock and numbness had given way ducing tissue swelling, also referred to as edema. to a determination to "beat this thing," The doctor had said As she reached into the tepid dishwater, Marlene felt a dull the prognosis was encouraging. Several lymph nodes were buming pain. A sharp knife at the bottom of the dishpan had removed from Marlene's armpit at the time of the lumpectomy opened a gash between her thumb and forefinger. "Francis!" to determine if the cancer present in the bean-sized lump had she called out to her husband. Francis came rushing in. spread to the lymphatic system and potentially to the rest of "Marlene, what's wrong?" he asked. her body. Thankfully it had not. She was tired and disoriented _ "I cut myself. Is it bad?" after the radiation treatments; even now she was only begin-_ Francis took her hand. "It's not too deep. May need a few ning to recover. She felt good enough this evening to wash stitches, though. Let's clean it up and get something on it, then the dishes herself, rather than having her husband do them. We'll go to the urgent care center." The surgery that removed her axillary nodes had left Marlene "If it's not that bad, let's just put a bandage on it. I am so with a nagging pinching sensation in her armpit and numb tired of doctors and nurses and hospitals," replied Marlene. areas of skin near the scar, but overall she felt satisfied with Francis carefully washed the wound and placed a clean the result. The swelling in her arm and hand did bother her, cotton pad over it. "Your hand seems so swollen, Marlene," he however. She didn't think much about the swelling at first, as remarked. the surgeon indicated it might occur if lymphatic vessels were Three days later, Marlene noticed that the swelling was injured during surgery. It had started several days ago, but over worse, and red streaks extended from her hand up her forearm. the last few days her swollen arm and hand had really become She gently lifted the bandage. Pus oozed from the wound, and bothersome. its margins (edges) were red and inflamed. She reached into her.

1. It had been seven weeks since her surgery and Marlene was One function of the lymphatic system
is to help return still feeling the effects of the lumpectomy, axillary dissection interstitial fluid to the
venous circulation. Removal of lym(removal of armpit lymph nodes), and radiation therapy. When
phatic tissues, such as the lymph nodes that were excised the doctor had told her she had breast
cancer, Marlene's world during Marlene's lumpectomy, can compromise fluid drainage. was turned
upside down; she was only 57 years old, healthy In Marlene's case, inadequate drainage of her
upper limb is proand active. Her initial shock and numbness had given way ducing tissue swelling,
also referred to as edema. to a determination to "beat this thing," The doctor had said As she
reached into the tepid dishwater, Marlene felt a dull the prognosis was encouraging. Several
lymph nodes were buming pain. A sharp knife at the bottom of the dishpan had removed from
Marlene's armpit at the time of the lumpectomy opened a gash between her thumb and forefinger.
"Francis!" to determine if the cancer present in the bean-sized lump had she called out to her
husband. Francis came rushing in. spread to the lymphatic system and potentially to the rest of
"Marlene, what's wrong?" he asked. her body. Thankfully it had not. She was tired and disoriented
_ "I cut myself. Is it bad?" after the radiation treatments; even now she was only begin-_ Francis
took her hand. "It's not too deep. May need a few ning to recover. She felt good enough this
evening to wash stitches, though. Let's clean it up and get something on it, then the dishes herself,
rather than having her husband do them. We'll go to the urgent care center." The surgery that
removed her axillary nodes had left Marlene "If it's not that bad, let's just put a bandage on it. I am
so with a nagging pinching sensation in her armpit and numb tired of doctors and nurses and
hospitals," replied Marlene. areas of skin near the scar, but overall she felt satisfied with Francis
carefully washed the wound and placed a clean the result. The swelling in her arm and hand did
bother her, cotton pad over it. "Your hand seems so swollen, Marlene," he however. She didn't
think much about the swelling at first, as remarked. the surgeon indicated it might occur if
lymphatic vessels were Three days later, Marlene noticed that the swelling was injured during
surgery. It had started several days ago, but over worse, and red streaks extended from her hand
up her forearm. the last few days her swollen arm and hand had really become She gently lifted
the bandage. Pus oozed from the wound, and bothersome. its margins (edges) were red and
inflamed. She reached into her