Recognizing Lymphedema Is Vital in Assisting Oncology Patients
认识淋巴水肿有助于肿瘤患者治疗
January 21, 2009—Oncologists who are alert to the signs and symptoms of cancer and cancer-treatment-related lymphedema can have a large impact on its course, because the chronic
condition can be minimized if recognized and treated early, according to a review article on lymphedema
published in the January/February issue of CA: A Cancer Journal for Clinicians.
依据 2009 年 1 月 21 日发表在《临床癌症杂志》1/2 月刊上关于淋巴水肿的一篇回顾性文章，
提醒肿瘤专家警惕癌症和癌症治疗相关的淋巴水肿的体征和症状可以影响癌症的进程，因为如果
尽早的认识和治疗，这种慢性过程可以最小化。
However , oncologists are generally too busy to oversee the care of lymphedema themselves,
and hence should become familiar with resources that can help connect patients
with lymphedema-management specialists, said lead author Brian D. Lawenda, MD, clinical director
of radiation oncology at the Naval Medical Center, in San Diego, California.
这篇文章的第一作者——加利福尼亚圣地亚哥海军医疗中心放疗主任Brian D. Lawenda博士说：“肿瘤专家往往由于过于忙碌而忽视淋巴水肿的治疗，因此应该帮助病人联系处理淋巴水肿的
专家。”
"We don't have the time to manage the care for lymphedema. Therefore, my colleagues and I
recommend that clinicians be aware of referring specialists in their area who are experts in the
diagnosis and management of lymphedema," Dr . Lawenda said in an interview with Medscape
Oncology 。
Lawenda 博士在肿瘤学医学网景的一次采访中说：“我们没有时间去处理淋巴水肿。因此，我同
事和我建议临床医生要意识到向善于诊断和处理淋巴水肿的专家咨询。”
Dr. Lawenda also noted that oncology patients at risk for lymphedema should receive pretreatment
evaluation that includes baseline girth and volume measurements of limbs. He emphasized the importance
of prevention education, which includes a discussion of risk factors,
and arm and leg care guidelines.
Lawenda博士同时也提到存在发生淋巴水肿危险的肿瘤患者应该进行包括淋巴的基线长度和测
量体积的治疗前评估。他强调治疗前评估的重要性，包括风险因素的讨论和四肢的护理指导。
Pretreatment patient evaluation and education are not well used by clinicians, suggested Dr.
Lawenda
Lawenda 博士谈到临床并没有很好的对患者进行治疗前和教育。
"Oncology patients are left with a lot of side effects of treatment.We commonly see lymphedema, but unfortunately it does not get a lot of discussion [by oncologists]. As result, it
can be a surprise to patients," he said.
他说：“肿瘤患者的治疗会遗留很多副作用。我们通常会看到淋巴水肿，但不幸的是它未得到肿
瘤专家的大量讨论。因此，对于病人这会成为一个意外。”
Who's Most at Risk?
谁是最危险的呢？
The most common causes of lymphedema in the United States are surgery and radiation
therapy for the treatment of cancer. The most common etiology is the impaired flow of lymph
fluid through the draining lymphatic vessels and lymph nodes, write Dr. Lawenda and his
