Also consider investing in a compression sleeve for when you fly. I had a friend who only had 2 nodes removed and after a flight to New Jersey (we live in MN) he had lymphedema flare up.

Flying, due to the change in pressure, can actually make your body swell, so wearing a compression sleeve during the flight and for about an hour after the flight can help avoid lymphedema.

If you had radiation there might be a slight chance.

yes, you do. I had 5 nodes removed on the non cancerous side and I have mild lymphedema and have to wear a sleeve. You'd think I would have got it on the cancerous side where I had 39 nodes removed! But not yet....Good luck!

I have not experienced it but fear it all the time. I wear a compression garment to work out and fly. Really need for flying. I am afraid that my workouts will give me lympedema. In my area they have a lymph clinic, I go ever few months and they take readings on my arms to compare the fluid in each arm. I keep the paper they give me. They consider 10% fuild difference to be lymphedema. Hope this helps. Keeps me free of mind for a while.

Good advice above...I also have a bracelet. Just chatted with my oncologist today about this subject. I, too, had only 2 lymph nodes removed. She cautioned to limit lifting to 5 or max 10 lbs with the affected arm. Backpack OK, but not too heavy, because that is dispersing the weight across the shoulders rather than just the arm. Check with your doctor re: recommendation for compression sleeve, if you fly. :-)