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Effect of Self-treatment During Rehabilitation Maintenance Phase on Affected Limb Lymphedema in Patients After Breast Cancer Surgery

Received: 16 May 2020     Accepted: 4 June 2020     Published: 20 June 2020
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Abstract

Objective: This article aims to discuss the effect of self-treatment during rehabilitation maintenance phase on affected limb lymphedema after surgery for breast cancer. Methods: Therapists for lymphedema gave one course of complex decongestion therapy (CDT) to affected limb lymphedema of 42 patients after operation for breast cancer. After CDT, patients took self-treatment during rehabilitation maintenance phase. At the 1st, 3rd, 6th, and 12th month after self-treatment, follow-up was conducted for the patients to measure the circumference of the limb, and condition of some lymphedema-related symptoms (such as limitation of shoulder movement, sense of tension, heaviness, needling and numbness). Results: After self-treatment, the circumference of the limb reduced and the lymphedema-induced symptoms improved significantly at the 1st, 3rd, 6th, and 12th month (P<0.05). Besides, 12 months after self-treatment, the lymphedema was maintained at stable phase and lymphedema-related symptoms were improved. The incidence of limitation of shoulder movement, sense of numbness, needling, tension, and heaviness reduced significantly compared with that before self-treatment (P<0.05). Conclusions: Adherence to self-treatment for lymphedema-related symptoms during rehabilitation maintenance phase can reduce the recurrence rate of lymphedema and thus is an effective method for consolidation treatment.

Published in International Journal of Biomedical Science and Engineering (Volume 8, Issue 2)
DOI 10.11648/j.ijbse.20200802.11
Page(s) 6-10
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), 2020. Published by Science Publishing Group

Keywords

Breast Cancer, Lymphedema, Complex Decongestive Therapy, Self-treatment, Follow-up

References
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[3] Liu Fenghua. “Breast Cancer Related Lymphedema: Pathogenesis, Incidence Rates, Diagnostic Techniques, Treatment Paradigms and Risk Reduction” [D]. Suzhou: Soochow University, 2014.
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  • APA Style

    Litao Zhang, , Yanni Li, Yuhua Ma, Rongzhao Lv. (2020). Effect of Self-treatment During Rehabilitation Maintenance Phase on Affected Limb Lymphedema in Patients After Breast Cancer Surgery. International Journal of Biomedical Science and Engineering, 8(2), 6-10. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijbse.20200802.11

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    ACS Style

    Litao Zhang; ; Yanni Li; Yuhua Ma; Rongzhao Lv. Effect of Self-treatment During Rehabilitation Maintenance Phase on Affected Limb Lymphedema in Patients After Breast Cancer Surgery. Int. J. Biomed. Sci. Eng. 2020, 8(2), 6-10. doi: 10.11648/j.ijbse.20200802.11

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    AMA Style

    Litao Zhang, , Yanni Li, Yuhua Ma, Rongzhao Lv. Effect of Self-treatment During Rehabilitation Maintenance Phase on Affected Limb Lymphedema in Patients After Breast Cancer Surgery. Int J Biomed Sci Eng. 2020;8(2):6-10. doi: 10.11648/j.ijbse.20200802.11

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  • @article{10.11648/j.ijbse.20200802.11,
      author = {Litao Zhang and  and Yanni Li and Yuhua Ma and Rongzhao Lv},
      title = {Effect of Self-treatment During Rehabilitation Maintenance Phase on Affected Limb Lymphedema in Patients After Breast Cancer Surgery},
      journal = {International Journal of Biomedical Science and Engineering},
      volume = {8},
      number = {2},
      pages = {6-10},
      doi = {10.11648/j.ijbse.20200802.11},
      url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijbse.20200802.11},
      eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.ijbse.20200802.11},
      abstract = {Objective: This article aims to discuss the effect of self-treatment during rehabilitation maintenance phase on affected limb lymphedema after surgery for breast cancer. Methods: Therapists for lymphedema gave one course of complex decongestion therapy (CDT) to affected limb lymphedema of 42 patients after operation for breast cancer. After CDT, patients took self-treatment during rehabilitation maintenance phase. At the 1st, 3rd, 6th, and 12th month after self-treatment, follow-up was conducted for the patients to measure the circumference of the limb, and condition of some lymphedema-related symptoms (such as limitation of shoulder movement, sense of tension, heaviness, needling and numbness). Results: After self-treatment, the circumference of the limb reduced and the lymphedema-induced symptoms improved significantly at the 1st, 3rd, 6th, and 12th month (P<0.05). Besides, 12 months after self-treatment, the lymphedema was maintained at stable phase and lymphedema-related symptoms were improved. The incidence of limitation of shoulder movement, sense of numbness, needling, tension, and heaviness reduced significantly compared with that before self-treatment (P<0.05). Conclusions: Adherence to self-treatment for lymphedema-related symptoms during rehabilitation maintenance phase can reduce the recurrence rate of lymphedema and thus is an effective method for consolidation treatment.},
     year = {2020}
    }
    

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  • TY  - JOUR
    T1  - Effect of Self-treatment During Rehabilitation Maintenance Phase on Affected Limb Lymphedema in Patients After Breast Cancer Surgery
    AU  - Litao Zhang
    AU  - 
    AU  - Yanni Li
    AU  - Yuhua Ma
    AU  - Rongzhao Lv
    Y1  - 2020/06/20
    PY  - 2020
    N1  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijbse.20200802.11
    DO  - 10.11648/j.ijbse.20200802.11
    T2  - International Journal of Biomedical Science and Engineering
    JF  - International Journal of Biomedical Science and Engineering
    JO  - International Journal of Biomedical Science and Engineering
    SP  - 6
    EP  - 10
    PB  - Science Publishing Group
    SN  - 2376-7235
    UR  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijbse.20200802.11
    AB  - Objective: This article aims to discuss the effect of self-treatment during rehabilitation maintenance phase on affected limb lymphedema after surgery for breast cancer. Methods: Therapists for lymphedema gave one course of complex decongestion therapy (CDT) to affected limb lymphedema of 42 patients after operation for breast cancer. After CDT, patients took self-treatment during rehabilitation maintenance phase. At the 1st, 3rd, 6th, and 12th month after self-treatment, follow-up was conducted for the patients to measure the circumference of the limb, and condition of some lymphedema-related symptoms (such as limitation of shoulder movement, sense of tension, heaviness, needling and numbness). Results: After self-treatment, the circumference of the limb reduced and the lymphedema-induced symptoms improved significantly at the 1st, 3rd, 6th, and 12th month (P<0.05). Besides, 12 months after self-treatment, the lymphedema was maintained at stable phase and lymphedema-related symptoms were improved. The incidence of limitation of shoulder movement, sense of numbness, needling, tension, and heaviness reduced significantly compared with that before self-treatment (P<0.05). Conclusions: Adherence to self-treatment for lymphedema-related symptoms during rehabilitation maintenance phase can reduce the recurrence rate of lymphedema and thus is an effective method for consolidation treatment.
    VL  - 8
    IS  - 2
    ER  - 

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Author Information
  • 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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