Lymphedema, a painful (and, in its worst incarnation, potentially life-threatening) condition suffered by many breast cancer survivors, has long been seen as collateral damage from treatment. You have lymph nodes removed (as about 80% of us do at the beginning of treatment), you’re at risk for lymphedema. You have radiation, you may be at risk for lymphedema.

You’ve at least heard of lymphedema, right? It was the title of one of those little pamphlets the oncology nurse gave you after...