Patient was educated on the role of the lymphatic system in the development of edema as follows:
- Lymphatic system usually helps with draining the fluid and proteins along with other nutrients that have leaked from the circulation, back into the circulation.
- When there is damage to the lymphatic system, such as, in radical mastectomy or cancer treatment with radiation or chemotherapy, the drainage of this fluid back into the circulation is affected.
- Consequently, fluid along with some protein settles outside the circulation and between the tissues, resulting in edema.
- As protein is needed to maintain fluid within the circulation, less amount of protein within the circulation contributes to fluid leakage from the blood vessels, resulting in edema.
