View clinical trials related to Lymphedema.
Filter by:The purpose of this study is to determine whether measuring the fluid in your arms using Bioimpedance Spectroscopy is as effective at detecting and monitoring lymphedema as measurements with the Perometer. The investigators will also evaluate any symptoms you may experience in your arms during and after treatment for breast cancer with a questionnaire.
Persistent pain, sensory disturbances, lymphedema and functional impairment are frequently occurring late effects of breast cancer treatment. The investigators have previously published data on 3253 women treated for breast cancer in Denmark in the period 2005-2006. Very few studies have examined how these late effects change in time. The aim of this study is to examine in a well defined patient population any change in the prevalence of persistent pain, sensory disturbances, lymphedema and functional impairment, as well as risk factor profile.
The study is a prospective cohort study following breast cancer patients from before surgery to one year after. The aims of the study are to determine risk factors that predispose to the development of persistent pain.
WISER Survivor is a one year weight loss and exercise study for sedentary breast cancer survivors who are overweight or obese with breast cancer related lymphedema. There will be four groups in this trial: exercise only, weight loss only, exercise and weight-loss combined, and a control group. The primary purpose of this study is to test the effects of these interventions on clinical lymphedema outcomes. Secondary outcomes include weight loss, breast cancer related biomarkers, and quality of life. To the extent that funding will be available, participants will be followed long term to examine effects on recurrence and mortality.
This phase II trial studies bioimpedance spectroscopy in detecting lower-extremity lymphedema in patients with stage I, stage II, stage III, or stage IV vulvar cancer undergoing surgery and lymphadenectomy. Diagnostic procedures, such as bioimpedance spectroscopy, may help doctors to predict the onset of lower-extremity lymphedema in patients with vulvar cancer undergoing surgery.
- Breast cancer treatment-related lymphedema requires life-long self-care is required. - No objective measurement mechanism exists that can easily be used to self-monitor arm volume. - Bioelectrical impedance devices approved for lymphedema measurement may be able to be used for self-monitoring. - The investigators will conduct a two-part study to first develop an impedance driven self-measurement protocal and then test the protocol in home settings. - The investigators hypothesize in part two of the study that when compared to participants who are not self-monitoring, those who self-monitor limb volume will: 1) report more days of garment use, skin care, and simple-MLD; and, 2) have fewer, less distressful, less intense symptoms, better productivity/activity, report higher perceived self-management/self-efficacy and QOL; experience fewer missed days of work, lymphedema treatment days, arm infections, and have a smaller number of antibiotic prescriptions.
This study aims to explore the effects of Low Level Laser Therapy (LLLT) on breast cancer-related lymphedema when utilized in conjunction with Complex Decongestive Therapy (CDT) when compared to CDT treatment alone. The investigators hypothesize that the addition of LLLT to CDT will result in statistically significant improvements and greater long-term benefits as measured by changes in arm volume and quality of life when compared to the benefits of CDT alone for the treatment of breast cancer-related lymphedema.
Breast cancer treatment is for many patients followed by sequelae, such as persistent pain, sensory disturbances, lymphedema and reduced physical function. These undesired consequences of the treatment are a major clinical problem, with persistent pain affecting 25-60%, sensory disturbances 20-80%, lymphedema 2-86% and reduced physical function 13-28% of patients. Development of persistent pain after breast cancer treatment, involves a complex pathophysiology that involves pre-, intra- and postoperative factors. Several risk factors for the development of persistent pain after breast cancer treatment have been identified; young age, psychosocial factors, surgical procedure and radiation therapy. Neurotoxicity is a well know attribute of many chemotherapeutic agents, such as taxanes. The purpose of this nationwide study is to retrospectively examine a cohort of breast cancer patients treated with docetaxel, to clarify if docetaxel may influence the prevalence and intensity of persistent pain and other sequelae.
Goal: The primary goal of this study is to longitudinally investigate, in head and neck cancer (HNC) patients, the potential fibrosis-lymphedema continuum. Specifically, we will examine the development, patterns, progression, and prevalence of late-effect fibrosis and/or lymphedema, explore potential biological correlatives including pro-inflammatory cytokines and genetic polymorphisms, and evaluate the relationship among late-effect fibrosis and/or lymphedema and select psychosocial stressors that potentially interact with cytokine pathways. H: A minimum of 20 percent of HNC patients will experience late-effect fibrosis and/or lymphedema. H: We will be able to differentiate characteristics patterns of the development of late-effect fibrosis and/or lymphedema. H: We will be able to differentiate patterns of symptoms associated with late-effect fibrosis and/or lymphedema. H: We will be able to differentiate patterns of inflammatory response and the development of late-effect fibrosis and/or lymphedema. H: Select polymorphisms will increase the likelihood of development of late-effect fibrosis and/or lymphedema. H: Incidence and severity of late-effect fibrosis and/or lymphedema will correlate with total dose of radiation to involved anatomical site. H: HNC patients with fibrosis and/or lymphedema experience greater levels of depression and social withdrawal than those without these conditions.
Hypothesis: To know the utility of manual lymph drainage (MLD) as part of the Physical Complex Therapy has turn out relevant because of the exclusive dedication that it supposes to the therapist. To date, the evidence-base for MLD is very limited and only two studies analyze its relevance. The first study measured the effect of compression bandage with or without MLD. The group receiving compression and MLD had a significant reduction in limb volume and decreased pain, despite the fact the MLD was given only for one week (Johansson et al., 1999). A further study investigated the effect of eight sessions of MLD over two weeks in 42 women with breast cancer-related lymphoedema, and the findings suggested that MLD do not contribute significantly to oedema reduction, although the MLD course was relatively short and the study group was limited to those with mild to moderate swelling (20-30 % of difference). Information about the quality of life, using the questionnaire EORT QLQ-C30 was gathered but the results were not considered in the final assessment (Andersen and Cabbage 2000). Similar studies would provide comparative and enlightening information with regard to the previous results. The investigators could determine if the MLD, in spite of not obtaining an improvement in the volume of the lymphoedema, provides a benefit in the reduction of the symptoms related to it. The investigators hypothesized that MLD does not contribute significantly in volume limb reduction but it provides a clinical improvement regarding the quality of life according to the questionnaire EORT QLQ-C30. For the calculation of the sample size the investigators depart from the following assumptions: The effect of the standard treatment on the control group control will produce an average volume limb reduction of 5 %. The effect of the treatment in the experimental group will be an average of the 25 % (a minor difference of effects would indicate a discreet effect of the tested treatment). The investigators also assume that, the standard deviation will be similar in both groups and near to 25 %. With this information and for an alpha risk of 0.05 and a power of 0.80 the calculation of the sample size is 20 patients in every group. Considering a rate of withdrawal of 30 % in every group, the appropriate sample size is 58 patients assigned in two groups of 29 patients. Main aim: To analyze the effectiveness of Manual Lymph Drainage (MLD) in the treatment of postmastectomy lymphoedema in order to reduce the volume of lymphoedema Secondary aims: To analyze the duration of the reduction of the lymphoedema in the time. To analyze the improvement in the concomitant symptomatology of the lymphoedema using the results of two quality of life tests validated in Spanish: EORTC QLQ-C30 version 2.0, for the cancer in general and EORTC QLQ-BR23 specifically for the breast cancer. In particular, the items refering to the upper extremity (47, 48, 49) and to the corporal image (39, 40, 41, 42) and in which the higher the score the worse the result. Methodology: Researching Project with methodology of randomized, controlled clinical trial. Group A or Control: patients with standard treatment (care the skin, exercise and measures of compression -bandage for one month and later a sleeve of compression). Group B or Experimental: patients with standard treatment (care of the skin, exercise and measures of compression (bandage for one month and later a sleeve for lymphoedema) and in addition they receive Manual Lymph Drainage Main variable: Volume reduction of the affected arm after the treatment expressed in percentage. Number of patients: 58 women.