Lymphedema News and Research

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Lymphedema is a condition that can cause significant swelling of the upper and lower extremities due to the build-up of excess lymph fluid. This can occur when the lymphatic system, which is responsible for draining excess fluid from the body and is a key component of the immune system, is damaged or altered. In breast cancer patients, this can occur after surgery, such as removal or biopsy of the lymph nodes, and/or radiation therapy. It is estimated that six percent to 40 percent of patients with breast cancer develop lymphedema, and that it often occurs within the first two years after surgery. For some cancer survivors and others at risk, a low level lymphedema can occur 10 years to 15 years following the initial primary treatment and develop into a condition that has a serious impact on overall health and quality of life.

Breast cancer survival and lymph nodes

A large new study has found that a lymph node-sparing test hailed as revolutionary for its conservative approach does not lead to longer survival times for women undergoing lumpectomies whose early-stage breast cancer has spread microscopically.

27 Jul 2011

Women with early-stage breast cancer do not benefit from lymph node removal

A new study shows that removing lymph nodes due to the presence of occult, or microscopic, cancer cells found in the sentinel lymph node - the one closest to the tumor -- has no impact on survival outcomes of women with early-stage breast cancer.

27 Jul 2011

Independent investigators report Lymphoseek meets all endpoints in NEO3-09 Phase 3 study

Independent investigators reported today full results from the NEO3-09 study, reaffirming earlier top-line results that showed Lymphoseek met all primary and secondary endpoints and exhibited superior performance to vital blue dye in intraoperative lymphatic mapping (ILM) procedures.

7 Jun 2011

Additional radiation treatment shows promise for breast cancer surgery patients

Additional radiation treatment improves disease free survival lessening the chance of cancer recurring in women with early breast cancer who have had breast conserving surgery (lumpectomy), interim results of a new study found.

6 Jun 2011

Lx Therapies, BioCis partner to form Laurantis Pharma

BioCis Pharma Oy and Oy Lx Therapies Ltd. announced today that the companies have combined to create Laurantis Pharma Oy, a clinical-stage specialty pharmaceutical development company.

26 May 2011

Breast cancer specialists offer new technology for patients to detect early-stage lymphedema

Breast cancer specialists at NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital/Columbia University Medical Center are offering patients new ways to detect early signs of lymphedema, a common side effect of breast cancer surgery that causes painful, debilitating and disfiguring swelling in the arms following removal of lymph nodes.

28 Mar 2011

Nonsurgical methods to identify critical lymph nodes in patients with breast cancer

Researchers at the University of California, San Diego are developing nonsurgical methods for identifying critical lymph nodes to help doctors determine courses of treatment for breast cancer patients.

24 Feb 2011

Study finds breast cancer patients do not benefit from axillary lymph node dissection

Among patients with early-stage breast cancer that had spread to a nearby lymph node and who received treatment that included lumpectomy and radiation therapy, women who just had the sentinel lymph node removed did not have worse survival than women who had more extensive axillary lymph node dissection, according to a study in the February 9 issue of JAMA.

9 Feb 2011

Accelerated completes acquisition of SPTRS, Burkam

Gryphon Investors announced today that its outpatient physical therapy platform company, Accelerated Rehabilitation Centers, has completed the acquisition of two physical therapy companies - Wisconsin based Sports Physical Therapy & Rehab Specialists and Ohio based Burkam & Associates.

4 Feb 2011

3M sues Andover for patent infringement over two layer compression bandage systems

3M and 3M Innovative Properties Co. filed a lawsuit in the U.S. District Court for the District of Minnesota today against Andover Healthcare Inc. seeking a preliminary injunction as well as a permanent injunction and damages regarding Andover's two layer compression bandage systems.

22 Dec 2010

Combination of SPECT and CT scans could offer protection against lymphedema in breast cancer patients

With guidance from a specialized scan, radiation oncologists at Mayo Clinic were able to reduce by 55 percent the number of lymph nodes critical for removing fluid from the arm that received damaging radiation doses.

13 Dec 2010

Weightlifting may help prevent lymphedema following breast cancer treatment

Weightlifting may play a key role in the prevention of the painful limb-swelling condition lymphedema following breast cancer treatment, according to new research from the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine. Combined with the team's previous findings that the exercise limits a worsening of symptoms among women who already have lymphedema, the new data cements the reversal of long-running advice that breast cancer survivors should avoid lifting anything heavier than five pounds after they finish treatment.

10 Dec 2010

Weightlifting program does not increase risk of lymphedema in breast cancer survivors

A slowly progressive weight lifting program for breast cancer survivors did not increase their risk of lymphedema (arm swelling and discomfort), according to a study that will appear in the December 22/29 issue of JAMA. The study is being released early online to coincide with its presentation at the San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium.

9 Dec 2010

New cyber-database enables access to information on lymphedema

Lymphedema is a chronic condition that causes swelling of the limbs and affects physical, mental and social health. It commonly occurs in breast cancer survivors and is the second-most dreaded effect of treatment, after cancer recurrence. Every day, researchers throughout the world learn more about the condition and how it can be treated. Now, University of Missouri researchers are developing a place in cyberspace where relevant and timely information can be easily stored, searched, and reviewed from anywhere with the goal of improving health care through the availability of up-to-date, evidence-based research.

4 Nov 2010

One-third of breast cancer survivors rate breast-conserving treatments as fair

A third of breast cancer survivors who received the breast-conserving treatments lumpectomy and radiation rate the appearance of their post-treatment breast as only "fair" or "poor" in comparison to their untreated breast, according to a new University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine study that will be presented today at the 52nd Annual Meeting of the American Society for Radiation Oncology (ASTRO) in San Diego.

3 Nov 2010

Pathology experts to evaluate medical, surgical breast cancer treatment at World Senologyc Congress

Spain will held the 16th World Senologyc Congress between the 20th and 22nd of October. This meeting will allow doctors to evaluate the progress achieved in medical and surgical breast cancer treatment and its future challenges. The best time to rebuilding breasts, how to preserve patients' fertility, the use of nodes self-transplant to treat lymphedema, the develop of new molecular targets and the use of stem cells will be some of the key issues to be treated during the congress.

31 Aug 2010

Research finds air travel causes low risk for lymphedema

McNeely, from the Faculty of Rehabilitation Medicine, says women who've had breast cancer surgery are often warned that pressure changes in an airplane cabin could trigger lymphedema, chronic swelling in the arm. But the study she did with an Australian research team showed that only five per cent of these women are likely at risk of developing any arm swelling when flying.

20 Aug 2010

Wound Management Technologies' CellerateRX introduced at DFWG congress in South Africa

Wound Management Technologies, Inc. announced today that its new international distributor, Spiramed (Pty) Ltd, exhibited its advanced wound care collagen product, CellerateRX® last weekend at the DFWG (Diabetic Foot Working Group) congress in Cape Town and has already planned exhibitions at two additional upcoming conferences. This second meeting of the DFWG congress was attended by over 120 diabetic foot specialists.

18 Aug 2010

Pathology experts meet to at SESPM to update new advances in breast surgery

Over 1.500 breast pathology experts will meet between the 20th and 22nd of October in the 16th World Congress of the Senologic International Society (SIS). This meeting and the 29th Congress of the Spanish Society of Senology and Breast Diseases (SESPM) will take place in the Valencia, coinciding with the International Breast Cancer Day.

16 Aug 2010

New study of breast cancer survivors may help physicians ease side effect of treatments

A new study of breast cancer survivors may help physicians ease a common side effect of cancer treatments. The collaborative research by Eva Sevick, Ph.D., Director of the Center for Molecular Imaging at the University of Texas Health Science Center in Houston, and Caroline Fife, M.D., Director of the Memorial Herman Wound Care Clinic at UTHSC, could bring relief to millions.

4 Aug 2010