Lymphedema: A Breast Cancer Patient's Guide to Prevention and Healing (Paperback)

~ (Author), Gwen White (Author) "OUR LYMPHATIC SYSTEMS are vast and extremely complex..." (more)
Key Phrases: lymphatic therapy, lymphedema treatment, patients with lymphedema, National Lymphedema Network, United States, Judith Casley-Smith (more...)

Editorial Reviews

From Library Journal

Lymphedema is a swelling caused by an accumulation of lymphatic fluid in tissues and is common among women who have undergone breast cancer surgery with axillary node dissection and/or radiation. Yet prior to surgery, most women are unaware of this condition and the heartache it can bring. Burt, a human resources consultant and breast cancer patient who has been affected by lymphedema, and White, a physical therapist, have put together an informative little book that should help all women suffering from the condition, at least to some degree. In the past, many women were told they would have to live with the swollen arm and lack of mobility that appeared after their surgery. Burt and White present treatment plans, massage therapies (professional and self-administered), and exercise regimens to alleviate or diminish this surgical aftermath. Though the authors advise vigilance to keep the skin and affected arm as healthy as possible, unfortunately, lymphedema can strike many years after surgery. Their useful guide will help women remain active and, one hopes, less obsessed with the "other" results of breast cancer. Recommended for patient health collections.
-Bette-Lee Fox, "Library Journal"
Copyright 2000 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Review

"...this book’s strength lies not only in its content, but in the spirit of hope it engenders." -- MAMM Magazine

"…focused on patient education and empowerment while compiling a wide range of information and expertise…an excellent resource to clinicians." -- Physical Therapy (American Physical Therapy Association's official publication)

"…incredibly well-written…exactly the information patients want. The low cost makes this information accessible to many people and a real find." -- Oncology Nursing Forum

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 204 pages
• Publisher: Hunter House Publishers; 1 edition (December 15, 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0897932641
• ISBN-13: 978-0897932646
• Product Dimensions: 8.5 x 5.5 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 11 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #753,534 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

34 of 34 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Book Helps Person in Small Town, May 27, 2000

By A Customer

I have had lymphedema for several years. I live outside a very small town which does not have a person who knows how to treat lymphedema. I found this book on Amazon.com and it gave me information that helped find a therpist in another city.

I must travel nearly two hundred miles to reach my therapist, but with her help and with the information in this book, the swelling has gone down and my arm is almost back to normal. In another couple of weeks I should not need to see the therapist any longer. Because of the detailed information in this book, and because of the therapist's instructions I know how to bandage my arm, what kind of sleeve to wear on it, exercises I should and should not do, even what kind of breathing helps my arm not swell.

I don't know what I would have done if this book had not been available. I wish it had been written years ago when my swelling began. I recommend it very highly.

21 of 22 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Important, life-saving reading for women at risk., March 3, 2000

By	Midwest Book Review (Oregon, WI USA) - See all my reviews

Lymphedema: A Breast Cancer Patient's Guide To Prevention And Healing describes the many options women have. It emphasizes active self-help and provides extensive information on preventing lymphedema; reducing lymphedema through professional therapy; reducing lymphedema through exercise and self-massage; selecting and using wraps and compression garments; eating right to manage lymphedema; finding emotional support; and locating resources for additional help. Jeannie Burt (a former lymphedema sufferer) and Gwen White (a practicing physical therapist specializing in the treatment of women with lymphedema) have collaborated to write an informative, "reader friendly" text, enhanced with more than fifty illustrations and encouraging stories of women who have dealt with lymphedema successfully using the methods described. Lymphedema is highly recommended reading for anyone suffering from or at risk for breast cancer.

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Finding Help, November 11, 2000

By A Customer

I found this book very informative and comforting. It not only tells about lymphedema, about why it starts and what can be done about it, but the book has the stories of other women with lymphedema and shows what they are doing for their condition. It helped make me aware that I am not the only person to have had problems after I was treated for breast cancer. Since my therapy for lymphedema I have used this book to maintain my arm's shape. I think the book is a wonderful guide. It was a real relief for me to find this book.