Acupuncture in the treatment of upper-limb lymphedema: results of a pilot study.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Current treatments for lymphedema after breast cancer treatment are expensive and require ongoing intervention. Clinical experience and our preliminary published results suggest that acupuncture is safe and potentially useful. This study evaluates the safety and potential efficacy of acupuncture on upper-limb circumference in women with lymphedema.

Methods

Women with a clinical diagnosis of breast cancer-related lymphedema (BCRL) for 0.5-5 years and with affected arm circumference ≥2 cm larger than unaffected arm received acupuncture treatment twice weekly for 4 weeks. Affected and unaffected arm circumferences were measured before and after each acupuncture treatment. Response, defined as ≥30% reduction in circumference difference between affected/unaffected arms

SUBMITTER: Cassileth BR 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3738927 | biostudies-literature | 2013 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature