Hello,
I had a robotic prostatectomy last December which included removal of some lymph nodes in the pelvis area. As cancer was found in one of the lymph nodes I am now having six months of hormone therapy (I'm in month five) and six weeks of radiotherapy (I'm in week four).
A few weeks ago I started noticing swelling in my right ankle, which has now spread up my leg. I wasn't too bothered at first as I thought it might be a side-effect of the hormone therapy. However when I mentioned it to the radiography coordinator supervising my treatment she thought I should speak to my GP.
My GP referred me to an acute treatment clinic at the local hospital (not the hospital where I am having my daily radiotherapy) where they took a blood test, and did an ultrasound scan of my leg. The doctor at the clinic said the scan hadn't shown anything, but as I was an at-risk patient for blood clots because of my prostate cancer, I have been invited for a second scan next week in case they missed something.
When I got home I consulted "Dr Internet" (as one does) and I have found mention of a condition called Lymphoedema, which is described as swelling in an arm or leg following removal of lymph nodes during cancer surgery. That seems to describe my case. There doesn't appear to be any curative treatment, though there are various management strategies.
Does anyone have any experience of anything similar?
Best wishes
AngusP
