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Journal ArticleDOI

Manual lymphatic drainage therapy in patients with breast cancer related lymphoedema

09 Mar 2011-BMC Cancer (BioMed Central)-Vol. 11, Iss: 1, pp 94-94
TL;DR: The results of this study will provide information on the effectiveness of Manual Lymphatic Drainage and its impact on the quality of life and physical limitations of these patients, as well as the improvement of the concomitant symptomatology.
Abstract: Background Lymphoedema is a common and troublesome condition that develops following breast cancer treatment. The aim of this study is to analyze the effectiveness of Manual Lymphatic Drainage in the treatment of postmastectomy lymphoedema in order to reduce the volume of lymphoedema and evaluate the improvement of the concomitant symptomatology.

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Citations
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02 Jul 2012
TL;DR: A case-control study designed to sequence the connexin 40 (GJA5) gene in women treated for breast cancer with and without a diagnosis of secondary lymphedema, finding no mutations were found in this cohort of women analyzed.
Abstract: Approximately 1 in 8 women will be diagnosed with breast cancer during their lifetime; however, continuing advances in the field of medicine have increased the expected survival rate. With such an increase in survival rate among breast cancer patients, there has been a recent emphasis on quality of life post-surgery. One of the most feared complications following breast cancer surgery is the development of lymphedema. Approximately 20-30% of women treated for breast cancer are affected by the onset of secondary lymphedema. Unfortunately, there is no cure and only a portion of women witness improvements in arm symptoms from the available treatments. Currently, there is no accepted model to successfully predict which women are at higher risk for development of lymphedema post treatment. An individual’s genotype as an identified risk factor is not typically considered when studying patient specific risk information. Since treatment for lymphedema is most successful when initiated early, identification of high risk women through detection of genetic risk factors can aid in early diagnosis, improved treatment outcome, and even prevention which is significant to the field of public health. Mutations in the HGF and MET genes had been previously identified in breast cancer secondary lymphedema patients suggesting the possibility of a genetic predisposition to development of lymphedema. More recently, findings of mutations in the connexin 47 (GJA12/GJC2) gene in breast cancer secondary lymphedema patients confirmed a genetic predisposition. There are several connexins expressed in lymphatics and further investigation of their involvement with lymphedema onset is warranted. The purpose of this study is to continue the investigation of the connexin genes and their involvement in secondary lymphedema. This is a case-control study designed to sequence the connexin 40 (GJA5) gene in women treated for breast cancer with and without a diagnosis of secondary lymphedema. In this study, 91 cases and 168 controls were sequenced for the connexin 40 gene. No previously unidentified connexin 40 mutations were found in this cohort of women analyzed. Despite no mutations being identified in connexin 40, further studies of the connexin genes are warranted given their expression and involvement in the lymphatic system.

2 citations


Cites background from "Manual lymphatic drainage therapy i..."

  • ...MLD is based on facilitating the passage of lymph from affected to unaffected areas of the body[39]....

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01 Jan 2020
TL;DR: It is the role of the physical therapist to deal with the physical and psychological complications of a mastectomy to improve the quality of life of the patients.
Abstract: Breast cancer affects a large number of women worldwide. Surgical management has evolved towards mastectomies and breast-conserving surgeries. The complications following a mastectomy can be physical and/or psychological. The physical complications include pain, scarring, lymphedema, limitation in range of motion at the shoulder, muscle weakness, change in body posture, etc. Some of the psychological complications are negative boy image, anxiety, depression and depressive disorders, negative body image. Appropriate management requires a multi-disciplinary team of which the physiotherapist is a part of. Literature has shown that there is a better improvement in physical function if physiotherapy is commenced early. Therefore, physiotherapy should be incorporated pre and postmastectomy. Physiotherapy management should focus on lymphatic drainage, soft tissue mobilization, range of motion exercises, strengthening exercises and postural correction. Increased physical activity and recommendation of support groups can help to improve psychological outcomes. It is the role of the physical therapist to deal with the physical and psychological complications of a mastectomy to improve the quality of life of the patients.

2 citations


Cites background from "Manual lymphatic drainage therapy i..."

  • ...[53] Martín, ML, Hernández, MA, Avendaño, C, Rodriguez F, Martinez H (2011)....

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  • ...It is caused by a defect in the lymphatic system and characterised by an abnormal increase in tissue proteins, oedema, chronic inflammation and fibrosis (Purushotam et al, 2007; Martin et al, 2011)....

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Patent
16 May 2014
TL;DR: In this article, a myocyte-based flow assist device (MFAD) was proposed for treating a subject in need of increased flow of a biological fluid, such as venous blood or lymph, comprising a sheath which comprises rhythmically contracting myocytes.
Abstract: This invention relates, e.g., to a Myocyte-based Flow Assist Device (MFAD) for treating a subject in need of increased flow of a biological fluid, such as venous blood or lymph, comprising a sheath which comprises rhythmically contracting myocytes.

2 citations

Book ChapterDOI
01 Jan 2013

2 citations

References
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Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: Chronic oedema arising for reasons other than cancer treatment is much more prevalent than generally perceived, yet resources for treatment are mainly cancer-based, leading to inequalities of care.
Abstract: Summary Background: Lymphoedema/chronic oedema is an important cause of morbidity in the population, but little is known of its epidemiology and impact on patients or health services. Aim: To determine the magnitude of the problem of chronic oedema in the community, and the likely impact of oedema on use of health resources, employment and patient’s quality of life.

499 citations


"Manual lymphatic drainage therapy i..." refers background in this paper

  • ...Problems associated with lymphoedema include: pain, altered sensations such as discomfort and heaviness, difficulties with physical mobility, physiological distress, recurrent infections and social isolation [3,4]....

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Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: Treatment for breast cancer is associated with considerable arm morbidity, which has a negative impact on QOL, andArm morbidity should be carefully monitored in future studies involving local treatment modalities for Breast cancer.
Abstract: PURPOSE: To determine the prevalence of and contributing factors for chronic arm morbidity including lymphedema in breast cancer patients after treatment and to assess the impact of arm morbidity on quality of life (QOL). PATIENTS AND METHODS: A four-question screening questionnaire was developed and mailed to a random sample of 744 breast cancer patients treated curatively in two cancer centers from 1993 to 1997. Patients were without recurrence and at least 2 years from diagnosis. Respondents were classified as with or without arm-related symptoms on the basis of the survey. Stratified random samples from each group were then invited for a detailed assessment of their symptoms and signs, including the presence of lymphedema. Their QOL was assessed by the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer QOL Questionnaire C-30 and by a detailed arm problem questionnaire that assessed various aspects of daily arm functioning. RESULTS: Approximately half of all screened patients were symptomatic a...

344 citations


"Manual lymphatic drainage therapy i..." refers background in this paper

  • ...In a study in which 744 patients with breast cancer were assessed with these quality of life scales, some imbalances regarding the quality of life in those patients with lymphoedema were found [ 8 ]....

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Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: HRQOL was lower for BrCa survivors with diagnosed lymphedema and for those with arm symptoms without diagnosed lyMPhedema in the IWHS, according to a dose-response relation between number of arm symptoms and lower HRQOL.
Abstract: Purpose The impact of lymphedema or related arm symptoms on health-related quality of life (HRQOL) in breast cancer (BrCa) survivors has not been examined using a large population-based cohort. Patients and Methods The Iowa Women’s Health Study (IWHS) collected self-report data for lymphedema, arm symptoms, and HRQOL (Medical Outcomes Study Short Form-36) in 2004 and data for cancer diagnosis, treatment, and behavioral and health characteristics between 1986 and 2003. We studied 1,287 women, age 55 to 69 years at baseline, who developed unilateral BrCa. We used cross-sectional analyses to describe the prevalence of lymphedema and arm symptoms and multivariate-adjusted generalized linear models to compare HRQOL (physical functioning, bodily pain, general health, physical and emotional role limitations, vitality, social functioning, and mental health) between the following three survivor groups: women with lymphedema (n 104), women with arm symptoms without diagnosed lymphedema (n 475), and women without lymphedema or arm symptoms (n 708).

343 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: It is suggested that CB on its own should be considered as a primary treatment option in reducing arm lymphedema volume, as well as manual lymph drainage massage in combination with multi-layered compression bandaging.
Abstract: Purpose. The purpose of this investigation was to compare the reduction in arm lymphedema volume achieved from manual lymph drainage massage (MLD) in combination with multi-layered compression bandaging (CB) to that achieved by CB alone.

235 citations


"Manual lymphatic drainage therapy i..." refers background in this paper

  • ...On the other hand, the fact that CPT implies several techniques (manual lymph drainage, skin care and multilayer compression bandaging followed by a compression garment to reduce oedema and therapeutic exercises) makes it difficult to recognize which of them is the truly effective one in the treatment of lymphoedema [ 12-14 ]....

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Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: The study showed that both groups obtained a significant reduction in edema and that MLD did not contribute significantly to reduce edema volume.
Abstract: A prospective randomized study was carried out to investigate whether the addition of manual lymphatic drainage (MLD) to the standard therapy could improve treatment outcome in women with lymphedema of the ipsilateral arm after breast cancer treatment. Forty-two patients were randomly assigned to receive standard therapy or standard therapy plus MLD 8 times in 2 weeks and training in self-massage. The standard therapy consisted of use of a compression garment, exercises and information about lymphedema and skin care. The efficacy of treatment was evaluated by reduction in lymphedema volume during treatment and by improvement in symptoms potentially related to lymphedema. The patients were followed-up for a total of 12 months. The study showed that both groups obtained a significant reduction in edema and that MLD did not contribute significantly to reduce edema volume.

220 citations