Breast cancer-related lymphedema: Symptoms, diagnosis, risk reduction, and management

World Journal of Clinical Oncology

Volumn 5, Issue 3, 2014, Pages 241-247

  Fu, Mei R ^a  

^a NEW YORK UNIVERSITY   (United States)

Author keywords

Breast cancer; Diagnosis; Lymphedema; Management; Risk reduction; Symptoms

Indexed keywords

EID: 84934754363     PISSN: None     EISSN: 22184333     Source Type: Journal    
DOI: 10.5306/wjco.v5.i3.241     Document Type: Review

References (44)

1. Ferlay J, Shin HR, Bray F, Forman D, Mathers C, Parkin DM.GLOBOCAN 2008 v1.2, Cancer Incidence and Mortality Worldwide: IARC CancerBase No. 10 [Internet]. Lyon, France: International Agency for Research on Cancer, 2010. Available from: URL: http: //globocan.iarc.fr. Accessed December 24, 2013 [DOI: 10.1136/jcp.53.2.164-A]
2. American Cancer Society (ACS). Breast Cancer Facts & Figures 2013-2014. Atlanta: American Cancer Society, Inc., 2013
3. Petrek JA, Senie RT, Peters M, Rosen PP. Lymphedema in a cohort of breast carcinoma survivors 20 years after diagnosis. Cancer 2001; 92: 1368-1377 [PMID: 11745212 DOI: 10.1002/1097-0142(20010915)92]
4. Lawenda BD, Mondry TE, Johnstone PA. Lymphedema: A primer on the identification and management of a chronic condition in oncologic treatment. CA Cancer J Clin 2009; 59: 8-24 [PMID: 19147865 DOI: 10.3322/caac.20001]
5. Mak SS, Yeo W, Lee YM, Mo KF, Tse KY, Tse SM, Ho FP, Kwan WH. Predictors of lymphedema in patients with breast cancer undergoing axillary lymph node dissection in Hong Kong. Nurs Res 2008; 57: 416-425 [PMID: 19018216 DOI: 10.1097/nnr.0b013e31818c3de2]
6. McLaughlin SA, Bagaria S, Gibson T, Arnold M, Diehl N, Crook J, Parker A, Nguyen J. Trends in risk reduction practices for the prevention of lymphedema in the first 12 months after breast cancer surgery. J Am Coll Surg 2013; 216: 380-389; quiz 380-389 [PMID: 23266421 DOI: 10.1016/j.jamc ollsurg.2012.11.004]
7. Fu MR, Kang Y. Psychosocial impact of living with cancerrelated lymphedema. Semin Oncol Nurs 2013; 29: 50-60 [PMID: 23375066 DOI: 10.1016/j.soncn.2012.11.007]
8. Fu MR, Rosedale M. Breast cancer survivors experiences of lymphedema-related symptoms. J Pain Symptom Manage 2009; 38: 849-859 [PMID: 19819668]
9. Fu MR, Ridner SH, Hu SH, Stewart BR, Cormier JN, Armer JM. Psychosocial impact of lymphedema: A systematic review of literature from 2004 to 2011. Psychooncology 2013; 22: 1466-1484 [PMID: 23044512 DOI: 10.1002/pon.3201]
10. Chachaj A, Malyszczak K, Pyszel K, Lukas J, Tarkowski R, Pudelko M, Andrzejak R, Szuba A. Physical and psychological impairments of women with upper limb lymphedema following breast cancer treatment. Psychooncology 2010; 19: 299-305 [PMID: 19399782 DOI: 10.1002/pon.1573]
11. Shih YC, Xu Y, Cormier JN, Giordano S, Ridner SH, Buchholz TA, Perkins GH, Elting LS. Incidence, treatment costs, and complications of lymphedema after breast cancer among women of working age: A 2-year follow-up study. J Clin Oncol 2009; 27: 2007-2014 [PMID: 19289624 DOI: 10.1200/JCO.2008.18.351]
12. Fu MR. Women at work with breast cancer-related lymphoedema. J Lymphedema 2008; 3: 3-36
13. Fu MR, Axelrod D, Haber J. Breast-cancer-related lymphedema: information, symptoms, and risk-reduction behaviors. J Nurs Scholarsh 2008; 40: 341-348 [PMID: 19094149 DOI: 10.1111/j.1547-5069.2008.00248.x]
14. International Society of Lymphology. The diagnosis and treatment of peripheral lymphedema. Consensus document of the International Society of Lymphology. Lymphology 2003; 36: 84-91 [PMID: 12926833 DOI: 10.1016/j.jpainsymma n.2009.04.030]
15. Armer JM, Radina ME, Porock D, Culbertson SD. Predicting breast cancer-related lymphedema using self-reported symptoms. Nurs Res 2003; 52: 370-379 [PMID: 14639083 DOI: 10.1097/00006199-200311000-00004]
16. Fu MR, Cleland CM, Guth AA, Qiu Z, Haber J, Cartwright-Alcarese F, Kleinman R, Scagliola J, Axelrod D. The role of symptom report in detecting and diagnosing breast cancerrelated lymphedema. Euro J ClinMed Oncol 2013: 1-9
17. Cormier JN, Xing Y, Zaniletti I, Askew RL, Stewart BR, Armer JM. Minimal limb volume change has a significant impact on breast cancer survivors. Lymphology 2009; 42: 161-175 [PMID: 20218084 DOI: 10.1089/lrb.2005.2.208]
18. Czerniec SA, Ward LC, Refshauge KM, Beith J, Lee MJ, York S, Kilbreath SL. Assessment of breast cancer-related arm lymphedema-comparison of physical measurement methods and self-report. Cancer Invest 2010; 28: 54-62 [PMID: 19916749 DOI: 10.3109/07357900902918494]
19. Armer JM, Stewart BR. A comparison of four diagnostic criteria for lymphedema in a post-breast cancer population. Lymphatic Res Bio 2005; 3: 208-217
20. Fu MR, Cleland CM, Guth AA, Kayal M, Haber J, Cartwright F, Kleinman R, Kang Y, Scagliola J, Axelrod D. L-dex ratio in detecting breast cancer-related lymphedema: reliability, sensitivity, and specificity. Lymphology 2013; 46: 85-96 [PMID: 24354107]
21. Cornish BH, Chapman M, Hirst C, Mirolo B, Bunce IH, Ward LC, Thomas BJ. Early diagnosis of lymphedema using multiple frequency bioimpedance. Lymphology 2001; 34: 2-11 [PMID: 11307661]
22. York SL, Ward LC, Czerniec S, Lee MJ, Refshauge KM, Kilbreath SL. Single frequency versus bioimpedance spectroscopy for the assessment of lymphedema. Breast Cancer Res Treat 2009; 117: 177-182 [PMID: 18563555]
23. Tierney S, Aslam M, Rennie K, Grace P. Infrared optoelectronic volumetry, the ideal way to measure limb volume. Eur J Vasc Endovasc Surg 1996; 12: 412-417 [PMID: 8980428 DOI: 10.1016/s1078-5884(96)80005-0]
24. Cemal Y, Pusic A, Mehrara BJ. Preventative measures for lymphedema: separating fact from fiction. J Am Coll Surg 2011; 213: 543-551 [PMID: 21802319 DOI: 10.1016/j.jamcolls urg.2011.07.001]
25. Paskett ED, Naughton MJ, McCoy TP, Case LD, Abbott JM. The epidemiology of arm and hand swelling in premenopausal breast cancer survivors. Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 2007; 16: 775-782 [PMID: 17416770 DOI: 10.1158/1055-9965.epi-06-0168]
26. Fu MR, Chen CM, Haber J, Guth AA, Axelrod D. The effect of providing information about lymphedema on the cognitive and symptom outcomes of breast cancer survivors. Ann Surg Oncol 2010; 17: 1847-1853 [PMID: 20140528]
27. Kwan ML, Darbinian J, Schmitz KH, Citron R, Partee P, Kutner SE, Kushi LH. Risk factors for lymphedema in a prospective breast cancer survivorship study: The Pathways Study. Arch Surg 2010; 145: 1055-1063 [PMID: 21079093 DOI: 10.1001/archsurg.2010.231]
28. Ahmed RL, Schmitz KH, Prizment AE, Folsom AR. Risk factors for lymphedema in breast cancer survivors, the Iowa Womens Health Study. Breast Cancer Res Treat 2011; 130: 981-991 [PMID: 21761159 DOI: 10.1007/s10549-011-1667-z]
29. Ruocco V, Schwartz RA, Ruocco E. Lymphedema: An immunologically vulnerable site for development of neoplasms. J Am Acad Dermatol 2002; 47: 124-127 [PMID: 12077591 DOI: 10.1067/mjd.2002.120909]
30. Fu MR. Preventing skin breakdown in lymphoedema. Wounds International 2010; 1: 17-19
31. Ridner SH, Fu MR, Wanchai A, Stewart BR, Armer JM, Cormier JN. Self-management of lymphedema: A systematic review of the literature from 2004 to 2011. Nurs Res 2012; 61: 291-299 [DOI: 10.1097/nnr.0b013e31824f82b2]
32. Kwan ML, Cohn JC, Armer JM, Stewart BR, Cormier JN. Exercise in patients with lymphedema: A systematic review of the contemporary literature. J Cancer Surviv 2011; 5: 320-336 [PMID: 22002586 DOI: 10.1007/s11764-011-0203-9]
33. Vaqas B, Ryan TJ. Lymphoedema: Pathophysiology and management in resource-poor settings-relevance for lymphatic filariasis control programmes. Filaria J 2003; 2: 4 [PMID: 12685942]
34. Cormier JN, Rourke L, Crosby M, Chang D, Armer J. The surgical treatment of lymphedema: A systematic review of the contemporary literature (2004-2010). Ann Surg Oncol 2012; 19: 642-651 [PMID: 21863361 DOI: 10.1245/s10434-011-2017-4]
35. Badger C, Preston N, Seers K, Mortimer P. Benzo-pyrones for reducing and controlling lymphoedema of the limbs. Cochrane Database Syst Rev 2004; (2): CD003140 [PMID: 15106192 DOI: 10.1002/14651858.cd003140]
36. Brorson H, Svensson H. Complete reduction of lymphoedema of the arm by liposuction after breast cancer. Scand J Plast Reconstr Surg Hand Surg 1997; 31: 137-143 [PMID: 9232698 DOI: 10.3109/02844319709085480]
37. Brorson H. Liposuction in arm lymphedema treatment. Scand J Surg 2003; 92: 287-295 [PMID: 14758919]
38. Brorson H, Ohlin K, Olsson G, Langström G, Wiklund I, Svensson H. Quality of life following liposuction and conservative treatment of arm lymphedema. Lymphology 2006; 39: 8-25 [PMID: 16724506]
39. Lasinski BB, McKillip Thrift K, Squire D, Austin MK, Smith KM, Wanchai A, Green JM, Stewart BR, Cormier JN, Armer JM. A systematic review of the evidence for complete decongestive therapy in the treatment of lymphedema from 2004 to 2011. PM R 2012; 4: 580-601 [PMID: 22920313 DOI: 10.1016/j.pmrj.2012.05.003]
40. Arsenault K, Reilly L, Wise H. Effects of Complete Decongestive Therapy on the Incidence Rate of Hospitalization for the Management of Recurrent Cellulitis in Adults with Lymphedema. Rehabilitation Oncology 2011; 29: 14-20
41. Fu MR. Cancer Survivors views of lymphoedema management. J Lymphoedema 2010; 5: 39-48
42. Feldman JL, Stout NL, Wanchai A, Stewart BR, Cormier JN, Armer JM. Intermittent pneumatic compression therapy: A systematic review. Lymphology 2012; 45: 13-25 [PMID: 22768469]
43. Ridner SH, Deng J, Fu MR, Radina E, Thiadens SR, Weiss J, Dietrich MS, Cormier JN, Tuppo CM, Armer JM. Symptom burden and infection occurrence among individuals with extremity lymphedema. Lymphology 2012; 45: 113-123 [PMID: 23342931]
44. Venipuncture Policy. Penrose-St. Francis Health Services: Nursing Policy Committee, Colorado Springs, CO, 2003