Any one who has surgery to their armpit (axilla) to remove lymph nodes is at risk of developing lymphoedema. Generally speaking the more lymph nodes that have been taken away, the greater the risk. But, occasionally, women who have only had very few nodes removed, will develop swelling of their arm some months, or even years, later.

This means that it is impossible to predict how great the chances of getting lymphoedema are for any one person.

If you have no sign of lymphoedema two years after your original operation this is very encouraging. It may mean that the lymph drainage from your arm on that side of your body is working almost normally. Alternatively it may mean that the lymph drainage has been reduced but not enough for normal daily activities to cause lymphoedema.

Exercising your arms with weights will increase the flow of lymph through the system, and put pressure on lymph drainage. This could tip the balance, and cause lymphoedema to develop.

There is no way of knowing how great this risk is in your case. So making a decision on what to do will depend on what is most important to you.

If you want to take all possible precautions to avoid lymphoedema don't do the exercises.

If, on the other hand, exercising is very important to you, try using light weights, for short periods of time. If this doesn’t cause any problems gradually increase your workouts, keeping a close watch for any sign of swelling your arm, and stopping if this appears.