Advances in the prevention and treatment of breast cancer-related lymphedema.

ABSTRACT:

Purpose

Breast cancer-related lymphedema (BCRL) represents a lifelong risk for breast cancer survivors and once acquired becomes a lifelong burden. This review summarizes current BCRL prevention and treatment strategies.

Findings

Risk factors for BCRL have been extensively studied and their identification has affected breast cancer treatment practice, with sentinel lymph node removal now standard of care for patients with early stage breast cancer without sentinel lymph node metastases. Early surveillance and timely management aim to reduce BCRL incidence and progression, and are further facilitated by patient education, which many breast cancer survivors report not having adequately received. Surgical approaches to BCRL prevention include axillary reverse mapping, lymphatic

SUBMITTER: Donahue PMC 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10224871 | biostudies-literature | 2023 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature