New Hope for Fighting Lymphedema

Lymphedema is a painful and often debilitating side effect of breast cancer treatment. If not diagnosed and managed early in the development stage, lymphedema can increase a patient's risk of infection and other shoulder complications. Swelling can be very disfiguring and make it difficult for a patient to find clothing that fits well also.

A new study that was conducted by the National Naval Medical Center and the National Institutes of Health and in collaboration with the University of Michigan-Flint and George Mason University may give women battling breast cancer some hope in regards to lymphedema. Pre-operative assessments of patients by a physical therapist were performed during the study. The patients were assessed for basic strength, range of motion, limb volume and physical activity. Infra-red technology was utilized that scanned the limbs using sensors and beams to measure limb volume. The participants in the study were scanned one month post surgery and three month intervals after that even if the patients showed no evidence of swelling. 

Being able to detect even a slight amount of swelling before it would be visible would be a huge accomplishment in early treatment. After a patient exhibited signs of swelling the patients participating in the study were given a conservative compression garment. Usually by the time a patient is diagnosed with lymphedema, a more aggressive and costly and time-consuming treatment is prescribed. Often the patient must attend daily therapy sessions which are difficult--at best--to deal with.

This most recent study, published in the April journal of Cancer will hopefully encourage patients to ask their physicians, surgeons, oncologists as well as physical therapists, questions. This study shows that early intervention may well save breast cancer patients much more aggressive therapy later on.