Screening and Measurement for Early Detection of Breast Cancer Related Lymphedema Part 1 of 3
Greeting! Following is Screening and Measurement for Early Detection of Breast
Cancer Related Lymphedema by the National Lymphedema Network.
Lymphedema and Cellulitis might well disappear one day – I hope! – if we are diligent and research continues. It is a nasty disease …
I am reprinting here in three parts only a smattering of information from the NLN website.
In addition a reminder that I write here as a patient with diseases – one of them lymphedema.
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Part 1 of 3
Position Statement of the
National Lymphedema Network
By: NLN Medical Advisory Committee
Updated April 2011
TOPIC: Screening and Measurement for Early Detection of Breast
Cancer Related Lymphedema
Breast cancer treatment places individuals at lifelong risk for the development of lymphedema. Early identification of lymphedema is believed to yield better patient outcomes. Patient education regarding the signs and symptoms of developing lymphedema and objective measurement of arms are needed to promote early identification and to improve patient outcomes.
• Patient education:
Patients should be made aware of the need to contact a healthcare provider immediately if they begin to experience feelings of heaviness or tightness in at-risk arms; if they notice swelling in the affected area; or if the arm and/or at risk chest or truncal areas becomes hot or red.
• Objective measurement:
Pre-treatment baseline measurement of arms is essential, as this serves as the base-lined at which subsequent measurements can be compared.
See http://www.lymphnet.org/pdfDocs/nlnBCLE.pdf
Thanks for reading … Sharon O’Hara <familien1@comcast.net>
