Author: Jennifer Austin (BSc MS)
In this article we will address the subject of lymphedema, and whether it can be fatal.
There can be lots of views and information on this, so here we will provide a summary of the information to hopefully leave you better informed.
Lymphedema is a condition which is characterized by localized swelling and protein-filled fluid retention in the subcutaneous tissues. It is caused by a compromised lymphatic system.
There are two main types of lymphedema, primary and secondary.
Primary lymphedema is caused by developmental lymphatic vascular anomalies and secondary lymphedema is caused by an underlying disease, trauma or surgery.
The most frequent cause is the secondary type that is a result from insufficient lymph drainage which can be a result from a blockage in the lymphatic system caused by removed or damaged lymph nodes.
That’s why it is most commonly seen in patients who have undergone cancer treatments.
What Is The Lymphedema Life Expectancy?
When the lymphatic fluids cannot be transported by the lymphatic system, the pressure in the lymphatic vessels gradually increases and the transportation slows down significantly.
When the pressure becomes too much for the walls of the lymphatic vessels, they eventually leak the fluid into the surrounding tissues causing lymphedema.
Over time, if it’s not properly managed, the lymphedema can lead to some complications.
To make it simple, the proteins in the lymph fluid make it difficult for oxygen to reach the surrounding tissues and which makes it harder for wounds to heal and it provides a great environment for bacteria and other pathogens to develop-causing infections, cellulitis, lymphangitis and even skin ulcers that are hard to heal.
In some rare cases of long-standing lymphedema, it can develop into a rare form of cancer called lymphangiosarcoma which has a poor life expectancy.
To answer the main question, what actually is the life expectancy of someone experiencing lymphedema?
Well that depends.
If the lymphendema is treated well and with the proper treatment such as complete decongestive therapy that includes manual manipulation of the lymphatic ducts with massage, applying short-stretched compression bandages, therapeutic exercises and proper skin care, then the life expectancy is with good prognosis.
However in those rare cases when lymphendema develops into lymphangiosarcoma, the average life expectancy is a few months to 2 years.
Does Lymphedema Shorten Your Life?
The simple answer is yes, lymphendema can shorten your life. But, the truth is a little more complicated.
Lymphendema is a condition which requires constant effort in managing it.
There are numerous treatments available and complete decongestive therapy (CDT) is just one of them.
Some other forms of treatment to add to CDT include compression with garments, bandages, intermittent pneumatic compression therapy and exercise.
Elastic compression garments are worn throughout the day and sometimes even nights, bandaging the affected limb with layers of padding and short-stretch bandage to enhance the lymph drainage.
Intermittent Pneumatic Compression therapy (IPC) is a therapeutic technique that uses an air pump attached to an inflatable jacket, sleeve or boot designed to help with the lymph fluid drainage.
The most promising results encourage that IPC should be used along with bandages and manual lymph drainage.
Resistance training has shown some beneficial qualities with patients with lymphedema and those who are at risk for developing lymphedema, that being said, consultation with a physician is advised beforehand and compressive undergarments should always be used while exercising.
To summarise, if left untreated lymphedema can significantly shorten your life, but some research shows that there is significant reduction of the edema in the affected limb if manual lymph drainage is used together with complete decongestive therapy, intermittent pneumatic compression therapy and exercise.
Can You Die From Lymphedema?
As we have discussed, lymphedema can shorten your life. But, can you die from it?
Making an effort to manage your lymphedema will surely prolong your life. On the other hand, lymphedema that is poorly managed will definitely shorten your lifespan and even cause death.
We mentioned above that the protein-rich fluid that is retained in the tissues can cause them to get oxygen deprived and that can cause other complications that can cause damage.
It is important for lymphedema patients to recognize the signs of these complications so they can treat them before they cause irreversible damage to their organism.
To prevent such complications, there are long-term solutions available for patients with lymphedema.
Such solutions are offered with surgical procedures and they can offer significant improvement in their quality of life.
Some examples of surgical procedures are:
Vascularized Lymph Node Transfers (VLNT) – Can be an effective option for people with upper extremity lymphedema. With VLNT lymph nodes are harvested and transplanted into an extremity to restore physiological lymphatic function
Lymphsticovenosus Anastamosis (LVA) – A procedure that uses supermicrosurgery to connect the lymphatic vessels directly to tiny nearby veins.
Suction assisted lipectomy is best suited for people who no longer adequately respond to compression therapy.
Other possible treatments include lymphatic vessel grafting where lymph vessels can be used as grafts and low-level laser therapy where lasers are used to treat the lymphedema and there are still some studies being done on procedures to help better quality of life.
What Is The Lymphedema Survival Rate
The survival rate for lymphedema patients depends on a few factors like the complications, its chronicity and the state of the underlying disease.
Primary lymphedema usually doesn’t progress and is stable after few years of being active.
Those patients who suffer from lymphedema for more than 10 years have a 10% chance of developing lymphangiosarcoma, which is the most fatal complication of this disease with a prognosis of a few months to 2 years.
Conclusion
When we sum up the all the above information, we discover that the question “Can lymphedema be fatal?” can’t be answered with a simple Yes or No.
It is a condition that greatly varies from person to person and how it is handled.
Poorly handled lymphedema can affect quality of life in a debilitating way, and it can eventually be the cause of life threatening complications.
And we discover that when lymphedema is managed with the right combination of therapy and medication, then its prognosis is good and you can live a full and happy life with this condition.
We hope you found this article useful, check back with us at lymphedemalifeline.org for more articles like this.
Disclaimer – The information on this website is for informational purposes only. Lymphedemalifeline.org and it’s staff, writers, etc. assumes no responsibility for any consequences arising from any use made of, or any reliance on, the information contained on this website.
Symptom management is definitely key, and engaging in all available services.
If management is so vital to quality of life and life expectancy why then do the insurance companies get to deny over and over again compression stockings, bandages, MLD etc. If I broke my leg the insurance company would pay for X-rays, possibly surgery and casting, and physical therapy.