预防淋巴水肿非常困难。在腋窝或腹股沟附近进行手术时意识到可能会发生淋巴水肿并谨慎操作,可能会降低术后淋巴水肿的风险。最大程度减小外科操作范围和放射疗法剂量也可能有助于降低风险。[7]Williams AF, Franks PJ, Moffatt CJ. Lymphoedema: estimating the size of the problem. Palliat Med. 2005;19:300-313.http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15984502?tool=bestpractice.com[9]McLaughlin SA, Wright MJ, Morris KT, et al. Prevalence of lymphedema in women with breast cancer 5 years after sentinel lymph node biopsy or axillary dissection: objective measurements. J Clin Oncol. 2008;26:5213-5219.http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18838709?tool=bestpractice.com例如,与单纯前哨淋巴结活检后进行腋窝淋巴结清扫术的16%的淋巴水肿发生率相比,单纯前哨淋巴结活检后淋巴水肿发生率可降低到5%。[9]McLaughlin SA, Wright MJ, Morris KT, et al. Prevalence of lymphedema in women with breast cancer 5 years after sentinel lymph node biopsy or axillary dissection: objective measurements. J Clin Oncol. 2008;26:5213-5219.http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18838709?tool=bestpractice.com[30]Mansel RE, Fallowfield L, Kissin M, et al. Randomized multicenter trial of sentinel node biopsy versus standard axillary treatment in operable breast cancer: the ALMANAC Trial. J Natl Cancer Inst. 2006;98:599-609.http://jnci.oxfordjournals.org/content/98/9/599.longhttp://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16670385?tool=bestpractice.com