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Manual Lymph Drainage as a Complex Decongestive Therapy for Upper Limb Lymphedema After Breast Cancer Operation

Received: 15 August 2019     Accepted: 10 September 2019     Published: 9 October 2019
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Abstract

Objective We aim to explore the clinical effect of manual lymph drainage as a complex decongestive therapy on improving upper limb lymphedema after breast cancer operation. Methods Manual lymph drainage was performed on 28 patients with lymphedema after receiving breast cancer operation. Circumference measurement was done at transverse palmar crease, transverse carpal crease, 10cm below transverse cubital crease, 10 cm above transverse cubital crease and 20 cm above transverse cubital crease at the first day before treatment and 1 day, 1 week, 2 weeks and 3 weeks after treatment. The movement of shoulder joints, pain and numbness of patients were recorded. Results After 3 weeks of manual lymph drainage, the circumference at transverse palmar crease, transverse carpal crease, 10cm below transverse cubital crease, 10 cm above transverse cubital crease and 20 cm above transverse cubital crease was significantly lower than that before treatment. The detumescence of the middle segment of forearm (10 cm below transverse cubital crease) was better than that of the middle segment of upper arm (10 cm above transverse cubital crease) and the superior segment of upper arm (20 cm above transverse cubital crease) with a significant difference (P<0.05). After the treatment of manual lymph drainage, the life quality of patients improved greatly and there was a significant difference (P<0.05). Conclusion Manual lymph drainage as a complex decongestive therapy for lymphedema after breast cancer operation is safe, effective and thus well worth clinical application.

Published in Journal of Family Medicine and Health Care (Volume 5, Issue 4)
DOI 10.11648/j.jfmhc.20190504.12
Page(s) 45-49
Creative Commons

This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, provided the original work is properly cited.

Copyright

Copyright © The Author(s), 2019. Published by Science Publishing Group

Keywords

Lymphedema, Manual Lymph Drainage, Complex Decongestive Therapy, Breast Cancer

References
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[3] Disipio, T., Rye, S., Newman, B., & Hayes, S. (2013). Incidence of unilateral arm lymphoedema after breast cancer: a systematic review and meta-analysis. The Lancet Oncology, 14 (6): 500-515.
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[5] Pusic, A. L., Cemal, Y., & Claudia Albornoz…. (2013). Quality of life among breast cancer patients with lymphedema: a systematic review of patient-reported outcome instruments and outcomes. Journal of Cancer Survivorship, 7 (1), 83-92.
[6] Hwang, J. M., Hwang, J. H., Kim, T. W., Chang, H. J., & Chu, I. H. (2013). Long term effects of complex decongestive therapy in breast cancer patients with arm lymphedema after axillary dissection. PM&R, 5 (9), S222.
[7] Pan YQ, Yang KH, Wang YL, et al. Massage interventions and treatment-related side effects of breast cancer: a systematic review and meta- analysis [J]. International Journal of Clinical Oncology, 2014, 19 (5): 829-841.
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[13] Huang, T. W., Tseng, S. H., Lin, C. C., Bai, C. H., Chen, C. S., & Hung, C. S., et al. (2013). Effects of manual lymphatic drainage on breast cancer-related lymphedema: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. World Journal of Surgical Oncology, 11 (1), 15-15.
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Cite This Article
  • APA Style

    Ma Yu-hua, Guo Xiao-xia, Zhang Li-tao, Lv Rong-zhao, Li Shi-ting, et al. (2019). Manual Lymph Drainage as a Complex Decongestive Therapy for Upper Limb Lymphedema After Breast Cancer Operation. Journal of Family Medicine and Health Care, 5(4), 45-49. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.jfmhc.20190504.12

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    ACS Style

    Ma Yu-hua; Guo Xiao-xia; Zhang Li-tao; Lv Rong-zhao; Li Shi-ting, et al. Manual Lymph Drainage as a Complex Decongestive Therapy for Upper Limb Lymphedema After Breast Cancer Operation. J. Fam. Med. Health Care 2019, 5(4), 45-49. doi: 10.11648/j.jfmhc.20190504.12

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    AMA Style

    Ma Yu-hua, Guo Xiao-xia, Zhang Li-tao, Lv Rong-zhao, Li Shi-ting, et al. Manual Lymph Drainage as a Complex Decongestive Therapy for Upper Limb Lymphedema After Breast Cancer Operation. J Fam Med Health Care. 2019;5(4):45-49. doi: 10.11648/j.jfmhc.20190504.12

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  • @article{10.11648/j.jfmhc.20190504.12,
      author = {Ma Yu-hua and Guo Xiao-xia and Zhang Li-tao and Lv Rong-zhao and Li Shi-ting and Tang Wan},
      title = {Manual Lymph Drainage as a Complex Decongestive Therapy for Upper Limb Lymphedema After Breast Cancer Operation},
      journal = {Journal of Family Medicine and Health Care},
      volume = {5},
      number = {4},
      pages = {45-49},
      doi = {10.11648/j.jfmhc.20190504.12},
      url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.jfmhc.20190504.12},
      eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.jfmhc.20190504.12},
      abstract = {Objective We aim to explore the clinical effect of manual lymph drainage as a complex decongestive therapy on improving upper limb lymphedema after breast cancer operation. Methods Manual lymph drainage was performed on 28 patients with lymphedema after receiving breast cancer operation. Circumference measurement was done at transverse palmar crease, transverse carpal crease, 10cm below transverse cubital crease, 10 cm above transverse cubital crease and 20 cm above transverse cubital crease at the first day before treatment and 1 day, 1 week, 2 weeks and 3 weeks after treatment. The movement of shoulder joints, pain and numbness of patients were recorded. Results After 3 weeks of manual lymph drainage, the circumference at transverse palmar crease, transverse carpal crease, 10cm below transverse cubital crease, 10 cm above transverse cubital crease and 20 cm above transverse cubital crease was significantly lower than that before treatment. The detumescence of the middle segment of forearm (10 cm below transverse cubital crease) was better than that of the middle segment of upper arm (10 cm above transverse cubital crease) and the superior segment of upper arm (20 cm above transverse cubital crease) with a significant difference (P<0.05). After the treatment of manual lymph drainage, the life quality of patients improved greatly and there was a significant difference (P<0.05). Conclusion Manual lymph drainage as a complex decongestive therapy for lymphedema after breast cancer operation is safe, effective and thus well worth clinical application.},
     year = {2019}
    }
    

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  • TY  - JOUR
    T1  - Manual Lymph Drainage as a Complex Decongestive Therapy for Upper Limb Lymphedema After Breast Cancer Operation
    AU  - Ma Yu-hua
    AU  - Guo Xiao-xia
    AU  - Zhang Li-tao
    AU  - Lv Rong-zhao
    AU  - Li Shi-ting
    AU  - Tang Wan
    Y1  - 2019/10/09
    PY  - 2019
    N1  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.jfmhc.20190504.12
    DO  - 10.11648/j.jfmhc.20190504.12
    T2  - Journal of Family Medicine and Health Care
    JF  - Journal of Family Medicine and Health Care
    JO  - Journal of Family Medicine and Health Care
    SP  - 45
    EP  - 49
    PB  - Science Publishing Group
    SN  - 2469-8342
    UR  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.jfmhc.20190504.12
    AB  - Objective We aim to explore the clinical effect of manual lymph drainage as a complex decongestive therapy on improving upper limb lymphedema after breast cancer operation. Methods Manual lymph drainage was performed on 28 patients with lymphedema after receiving breast cancer operation. Circumference measurement was done at transverse palmar crease, transverse carpal crease, 10cm below transverse cubital crease, 10 cm above transverse cubital crease and 20 cm above transverse cubital crease at the first day before treatment and 1 day, 1 week, 2 weeks and 3 weeks after treatment. The movement of shoulder joints, pain and numbness of patients were recorded. Results After 3 weeks of manual lymph drainage, the circumference at transverse palmar crease, transverse carpal crease, 10cm below transverse cubital crease, 10 cm above transverse cubital crease and 20 cm above transverse cubital crease was significantly lower than that before treatment. The detumescence of the middle segment of forearm (10 cm below transverse cubital crease) was better than that of the middle segment of upper arm (10 cm above transverse cubital crease) and the superior segment of upper arm (20 cm above transverse cubital crease) with a significant difference (P<0.05). After the treatment of manual lymph drainage, the life quality of patients improved greatly and there was a significant difference (P<0.05). Conclusion Manual lymph drainage as a complex decongestive therapy for lymphedema after breast cancer operation is safe, effective and thus well worth clinical application.
    VL  - 5
    IS  - 4
    ER  - 

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Author Information
  • Department of Breast Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Jinan University, Guangzhou, China

  • The First Affiliated Hospital of Jinan University, Guangzhou, China

  • Department of Breast Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Jinan University, Guangzhou, China

  • Department of Breast Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Jinan University, Guangzhou, China

  • Department of Breast Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Jinan University, Guangzhou, China

  • Department of Breast Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Jinan University, Guangzhou, China

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