Why is it that after a radical mastectomy the arm near the affected area usually swells?

Answer 1

A mastectomy is the surgical removal of a breast. In a 'radical' mastectomy, the lymph nodes (or glands) in the nearby armpit are also removed as this is where cancer can sometimes spread to..... this causes a disruption of the flow of 'lymph' in the arm causing a back up and the arm swells. Lymph is the remainder of the fluid that has filtered out of the blood to bathe the cells of the arm and usually travels back up the lymphatic system, through the lymph nodes, to mix back into the blood stream near the base of the neck.

Answer 2

the arm swells after a mastectomy due to a lost of a body part(imbalance) if the doctor removed lymph nodes(helps remove/drain fluid)the fluid imbalance will occur. 2.) Also remember to never have blood drawn from the same side as a mastectomy. The placement of a tourniquet will increase swelling and cause more damage to any remaining lymphnodes.

Answer 3

The arm on the affected side often swells after radical mastectomy because of the surgical removal of the axillary lymph nodes. This removal interferes with lymphatic drainage from the arm on that side.

Answer 4

because of the inflammatory reaction