Chemotherapy Side Effect

Excess fluid beneath the skin is called edema. It is most prevalent in the feet, ankles, hands and face, but edema or swelling may also appear in other parts of the body. The accumulation of fluid may be from chemotherapy treatment, cancer surgery, heart failure, or an allergic reaction.

Other causes might be:
-Too much salt in the patient's diet
-Blockage of lymph system, especially after a mastectomy or surgery
-Heart failure, kidney or liver problems
-Excessive standing, walking, exercising in warm weather and sun exposure (resulting in sunburn)

To reduce the swelling:
- limit the amount of salt you eat
- when sitting, raise your legs and hands
- wear support stockings
- your physician may prescribe a diuretic (water pill)

If you notice swelling in your throat, tongue, lips, eyelids or airway, this may be an allergic reaction which could result in suffocation. It is important to seek aid immediately.

Actions to manage edema include:
- Try to keep your feet elevated, do not stand for long periods of time, and do not cross your legs while sitting.
- Consider sleeping with a pillow under your feet and lower legs
- Wiggle and exercise your feet, toes, and lower extremities during times of sitting or extended times of standing
- Consider exercising 3-5 days a week
- Avoid tight clothing (shoes, girdles, etc).
- Avoid extreme temperatures such as hot baths
- Try to watch your salt intake and avoid salty foods such as ham, processed food, canned soups, chips, french fries, and consider reducing trans fatty acids such as margarine and use olive oil instead.
- Eat diuretic vegetables such as asparagus, parsley, beets, grapes, green beans, leafy greens, pineapple, pumpkin, onion, leeks, and garlic
- Avoid tobacco and alcohol
- With permission from your physician you might consider wearing support stockings or hose.
- Consider weighing yourself often and inform if your physician it you gain weight and have trouble breathing. (A significant amout is 5 pounds or more in a week.)

To treat edema, it is important to treat the underlying cause. But if the cause can not be treated, the physician might recommend a treatment plan including a diuretic.

Diuretics are known as "water pills" as they work by making you urinate excess fluid. Some examples of these medications are furosemide (Lasix), Torsemide, Butethamine, metolazone and Hydrochlorthiazide. You may receive this medication alone or in combination with other medications.