Breast Cancer Related Lymphedema
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Top Contributors - Lucinda hampton, Claire Knott and Temitope Olowoyeye
Introduction[edit | edit source]
Breast cancer–related lymphedema (BCRL) is a potentially debilitating and often irreversible complication of breast cancer treatment. Risk of BCRL is proportional to the extent of axillary surgery and radiation. Other risk factors include obesity and infections. Minimizing axillary surgery and radiation has been proven to reduce the risk of BCRL.
Comprehensive multidisciplinary assessment at the time of initial diagnosis; early referral to physical therapy after surgery; and patient education regarding weight loss, skin, and nail care are cornerstones of the management of early-stage lymphedema.
End-stage lymphedema may benefit from referral to a plastic surgeon specializing in lymphedema surgery[1].
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Physiotherapy[edit | edit source]
Physical therapists work closely with the client and other members of the health care team to help control swelling caused by lymphedema and meet the clients goals for returning to their usual activities.
More than one in five patients who undergo treatment for breast cancer will develop breast cancer-related lymphedema (BCRL). Lymphedema generally develops three months to 20 years after cancer treatment. Identifying and treating lymphedema early helps to ensure more rapid and improved outcomes, and treatment provided later during the chronic stages of the disease can help.
BCRL can occur as a result of breast cancer surgery and/or radiation therapy. BCRL can negatively impact comfort, function, and quality of life (QoL). Manual lymphatic drainage (MLD), a type of hands-on therapy, is frequently used for BCRL and often as part of complex decongestive therapy (CDT). CDT is a fourfold conservative treatment which includes MLD, compression therapy (consisting of compression bandages, compression sleeves, or other types of compression garments), skin care, and lymph-reducing exercises (LREs)[2].
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Resources[edit | edit source]
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References[edit | edit source]
- ↑ Tandra P, Kallam A, Krishnamurthy J. Identification and management of lymphedema in patients with breast cancer. Journal of oncology practice. 2019 May;15(5):255-62.Available from:https://ascopubs.org/doi/10.1200/JOP.18.00141 (accessed 27.1.2021)
- ↑ Ezzo J, Manheimer E, McNeely ML, Howell DM, Weiss R, Johansson KI, Bao T, Bily L, Tuppo CM, Williams AF, Karadibak D. Manual lymphatic drainage for lymphedema following breast cancer treatment. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews. 2015(5).Available from:https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25994425/ (accessed 27.1.2021)
