{"id":17074,"date":"2021-01-12T14:19:40","date_gmt":"2021-01-12T19:19:40","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/720bb4d963.nxcli.net\/?p=17074"},"modified":"2021-01-21T10:49:57","modified_gmt":"2021-01-21T15:49:57","slug":"hnca-ambassador-and-oral-cancer-survivor-jacki-rogozinski-shares-her-experience-with-lymphedema-part-1","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.headandneck.org\/hnca-ambassador-and-oral-cancer-survivor-jacki-rogozinski-shares-her-experience-with-lymphedema-part-1\/","title":{"rendered":"HNCA Ambassador and Oral Cancer Survivor, Jacki Rogozinski, Shares Her Experience with Lymphedema (Part 1)"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
\"\"<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Several months after my neck dissection surgery and 30\nradiation treatments, I began feeling increased tightness of my jaw and saw a\nnoticeable puffiness of my face. Of course, it\u2019s normal to have swelling\nimmediately after any surgery, but that initial swelling had resolved within a\nweek or so after the operation. The stiffness in my neck and jaw had definitely\nincreased, even though I was doing my daily stretching exercises.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Eleven years before my diagnosis, my mom endured lengthy\ntreatment for cervical and uterine cancer and, thankfully, had survived the\nordeal. As part of her treatment, many lymph nodes were removed from her groin\nwhich led to uncomfortable swelling in her legs and the need for daily\ncompression wraps. That\u2019s when I first became aware of \u201clymphedema\u201d. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

At first, I didn\u2019t make the connection between my mom\u2019s\nexperience and my own. I\u2019d had 33 lymph nodes removed from the left side of my\nneck; but I thought lymphedema only affected the extremities, like my mom\u2019s\nlegs or breast cancer patients\u2019 arms that swelled after lymph nodes were\nremoved from the armpits. I soon learned that lymphedema is quite common among\nhead and neck cancer survivors.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What is Lymphedema?<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

A very simple way to think about lymphedema is to compare it\nto a traffic jam. Normally, traffic flows along streets, roads and highways\ntaking people where they need to go for daily tasks, jobs and functions. When\nthat normal flow is interrupted by a stalled vehicle or a traffic accident,\ncars pile up behind it and prevent everyone from getting to their important\ndaily business.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A slightly more scientific explanation: the lymphatic system\nis a highly complex network of vessels, tissues and organs that plays a major\nrole in our immune system. It transports lymph, a colorless fluid containing\nproteins and infection-fighting white blood cells, through the body and helps\nget rid of waste and unwanted toxins. Lymph is transported through lymph nodes\nand returned to the bloodstream.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For many cancer patients, the lymphatic system becomes damaged by treatment, mainly surgery and radiation. That damage interrupts the normal return of lymph to the bloodstream, like a freeway accident causing traffic to back up, Without the proper pathways, the lymph collects in the soft tissue, resulting in lymphedema. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

As many as 75% of head and neck cancer patients will experience lymphedema to some degree. Although there is no cure, lymphedema can be managed with proper intervention. Unfortunately, many patients don\u2019t receive the proper treatment for the condition which leads to exacerbated side effects and decreased quality of life. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Coming Soon in Part 2: Jacki shares techniques that helped her manage her lymphedema.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Jacki Rogozinski<\/a>
Healthcare Sales & Marketing Professional
Survivor of Stage IV Oral Cancer
Austin, TX<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\n

\n
Jacki Rogozinski<\/a><\/blockquote>