Q: I am monitoring my blood pressure at home. Is it true that the arm on a mastectomy side should not be used? And if so why?
A: Chronic arm swelling known as lymphedema can be a side effect from a mastectomy. If this occurs, it is best not to take blood pressure on the effected arm to avoid putting more pressure on the vessels in the arm. With less radical breast surgery and/or a sentinel node biopsy instead of removal all of the lymph nodes under the arm, lymphedema is less likely to happen. When lymphedema is not a concern, blood pressure can be taken on the arm on the same side as the surgery.
Further Reading:
How to Avoid Lymphedema – BreastCancer.org
Lymphedema and High Blood Pressure – LymphedemaPeople.com
Loading ...
Loading ...
If you have had any kind of lymph node removal you are at risk for lymphedema for life. It can occur with any kind of trauma to the arm, from a cut to taking BP, and the initial episode can be many years after the surgery. So if any of the nodes were removed it would be best to avoid blood pressure on that arm even if you don’t currently have any swelling.
Marge, thanks for your answer. A nurse once told me a lady who was 10 yrs out from her mastectomy accidently let a BP be taken on the wrong arm and the arm swelled up twice its size. I never take a chance even though, thank God, I’ve never had a problem with lymphedema.
I battle against misinformation about this constantly. Patients with sentinal node biopsies have only one or two lymph nodes removed. There is no additional risk of lymphedema in this case (although virtually all patients are counselled wrongly – usually by uninformed nurses).
We developeed these newer techniques to avoid such problems and still get improved outcomes. Misinformation is everywhere about this. My searching on the web today shows the same wrong information. Most patients who have had sentinal node biopsies will need to get blood draws, I.V.’s and Blood pressures in their arm in the future – and it is safe!!!