title: Best Practice Guidelines in Assessment, Risk Reduction, Management, and Surveillance for Post-Breast Cancer Lymphedema.
abstract: Breast cancer-related lymphedema (LE) is a progressive, chronic disease that affects millions of cancer survivors and primarily results from surgical lymphatic vessel/node 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.
authors.affiliation: Sinclair School of Nursing Director, Nursing Research, Ellis Fischel Cancer Center Director, American Lymphedema Framework Project DC 116.05 Suite 415 EFCC University of Missouri-Columbia Columbia, MO 62011.
authors.forename: Jane M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Armer
authors.affiliation: Sinclair School of Nursing University of Missouri-Columbia Jmh5f3@mail.missouri.edu.
authors.forename: Jennifer M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Hulett
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery University of Arizona michaelb@u.arizona.edu.
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bernas
authors.affiliation: Sinclair School of Nursing University of Missouri-Columbia Plo7c9@mail.missouri.edu.
authors.forename: Pam
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Ostby
authors.affiliation: College of Education and Sinclair School of Nursing University of Missouri-Columbia stewartb@missouri.edu.
authors.forename: Bob R
authors.initials: BR
authors.lastname: Stewart
authors.affiliation: Departments of Surgical Oncology and Biostatistics The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center Houston, TX jcormier@mdanderson.org.
authors.forename: Janice N
authors.initials: JN
authors.lastname: Cormier
keywords: Breast cancer; Combined decongestive therapy; Complementary; Compression garment; Exercise; Intermittent pneumatic compression pump; Limb volume; Lymphatic; Lymphedema; Management; Manual lymphatic drainage; Practices; Risk reduction; Surveillance