Best Practice Guidelines in Assessment Risk Reduction Management and Surveillance for Post-Breast Cancer Lymphedema

摘要

Breast cancer-related lymphedema (LE) is a progressive, chronic disease that affects millions of cancer survivors and primarily results from surgical lymphatic vesselode removal and radiation therapy. Patient education and support for importance of early detection is essential in helping health care providers detect lymphedema early, when there is the best chance to prevent progression. Improved imaging and surgical techniques have decreased the incidence of LE; however, effective risk-reduction and treatment have historically lacked the level of evidence necessary to standardize effective treatment. The purpose of this article is to report an extensive review of literature, including highlighted multidisciplinary studies within the past three years, in order to update best practice guidelines in assessment, risk reduction, management, and surveillance for post-breast cancer lymphedema.