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World J Clin Oncol. Aug 10, 2014; 5(3): 241-247
Published online Aug 10, 2014. doi: 10.5306/wjco.v5.i3.241
Breast cancer-related lymphedema: Symptoms, diagnosis, risk reduction, and management
Mei R Fu
Mei R Fu, College of Nursing, New York University, New York, NY 10003, United States
Author contributions: Fu MR solely contributed to this paper.
Correspondence to: Mei R Fu, PhD, RN, ACNS-BC, FAAN, Associate Professor, College of Nursing, New York University, 726 Broadway, 10th Floor, New York, NY 10003, United States. mf67@nyu.edu
Telephone: +1-212-9985314
Received: December 31, 2013
Revised: April 29, 2014
Accepted: May 16, 2014
Published online: August 10, 2014
Processing time: 213 Days and 3.1 Hours
Core Tip

Core tip: Lymphedema is one of the most dreaded and unfortunate outcomes of breast cancer treatment. Up to 40% of the women treated for breast cancer had lymphedema. Currently, there is no cure for this chronic condition. Even more distressing is that women who treated for breast cancer are facing a life-time risk of developing lymphedema. Lymphedema elicits daily stress and negative impact on breast cancer survivors’ the quality of life. This paper offers an insightful understanding of the condition by providing clinically relevant and evidence based knowledge regarding lymphedema symptoms, diagnosis, risk reduction, and management with the intent to inform health care professionals so that they can be better equipped to care for patients.