TME and oedema

Hello Gemmary,

Thanks for getting in touch. My name is Helen, I’m one of the Cancer Information Nurses on the Macmillan Support Line.

Welcome to the online community. I see you have made lots of connections across several of our forums and hope you find the community warm and supportive.

You have explained that you underwent a low anterior resection and total mesorectal excision for a bowel cancer. In addition, you had a good many lymph nodes removed.

You have described having swollen ankles and are unsure if this is oedema or lymphoedema and you have been on furosemide – a tablet that makes you wee more, to reduce the fluid collecting around your lower limbs.

Oedema is the term for fluid collecting in the tissues, commonly of the legs and can be caused by several conditions. If it is evident in one limb it might be due to an injury, an insect bite, an infection or a blood clot. If it is affecting both limbs, it might indicate problems with the kidneys, liver or heart.

Lymphoedema is the same symptom – a collection of fluid in the limbs - but is caused by the removal of lymph nodes. The absence of lymph nodes means lymphatic drainage is impacted and fluid collects in the tissues.

There isn’t a specific test for lymphoedema and in many cases, it can be diagnosed from your symptoms and your medical history, although your GP can certainly take some simple blood tests to check that your heart, liver and kidneys are healthy.

Getting a diagnosis is important as untreated lymphoedema can worsen. We would advise requesting a referral to a specialist lymphoedema treatment centre for further assessment, if there is one in your area.

Macmillan has a booklet titled Understanding Lymphoedema, which you might like to take a look at before you speak to your GP again. It also explains how to look after your skin and to protect it from injury or infection.

In addition, you might find the information and support from the Lymphoedema Support Network useful.

I hope this information is useful. Please don’t hesitate to get back in contact by email, webchat or phone, if you need further information or support.

The Macmillan Support Line offers practical, clinical, financial and emotional support. You can call us free from landlines and from most mobile phone networks* on 0808 808 00 00, 7 days a week, 8am – 8pm.

Best wishes, Helen

Cancer Information Nurse Specialist 

Ref HM/ BL