Lymphedema a risky 2nd battle for some breast cancer patients

Virginia Harrod fought her way through stage 3 breast cancer. She survived the double mastectomy that followed her diagnoses. She bounced back after surgeons removed 16 lymph nodes around her armpit and breast. Harrod then underwent radiation therapy.

In the end, lymphedema—the swelling of soft tissue in extremities—proved to be the biggest challenge.

"Cancer was a piece of cake," Harrod said, in an interview with NPR. "It was the lymphedema that almost killed me."

Read more about the Kentucky county prosecutor’s struggle with the condition, along with an interview on NPR’s “Morning Edition” at the link below:

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Nicholas Leider, Managing Editor

Nicholas joined TriMed in 2016 as the managing editor of the Chicago office. After receiving his master’s from Roosevelt University, he worked in various writing/editing roles for magazines ranging in topic from billiards to metallurgy. Currently on Chicago’s north side, Nicholas keeps busy by running, reading and talking to his two cats.

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