Mission

Our mission is to enhance services provided to those touched by breast cancer in our rural communities. In addition to helping with traditional support services and complementary care, we hope to address issues specific to our rural setting, including access and transportation, physical/emotional isolation, and communication gaps between providers.

If you would like to participate in one of our programs, or know someone who would, please contact a committee member or email us at the address below.

We welcome community participation and input. Please contact us with questions or suggestions.

Lymphedema Articles

Lymphedema and Plane Flight

Compression prophylaxis may increase the potential for flight-associated lymphoedema after breast cancer treatment.
Graham PH.
Cancer Care Centre, St George Hospital, Kogarah, NSW, Australia. p.graham@unsw.edu.au

This study aimed to assess exposure to flying in breast cancer survivors and assess the relationship of flying to lymphoedema. A total of 293 relapse-free breast cancer survivors with known pathology and treatment details and prospectively measured arm circumferences were surveyed for their flight exposure and precautions history. Of these, 287 responded, with a mean follow-up of 31.6 (4-111) months. A total of 50.5% had flown, and of these, 27% had travelled overseas. The mean number of flights was 5.3 (1-100); 24% had taken lymphoedema precautions, 90% of which utilized compression techniques. There was no significant difference in lymphoedema rates for fliers (11.2%) and non-fliers (8.3%). No woman reported permanent (new or increased) swelling after flying. Of the nine reporting temporary swelling, six reported 1-3 concurrent potential risk factors. On regression modelling for both measured and self-reported swelling endpoints the use of precautions (OR 5.6 for lymphoedema and 3.7 for flight-related temporary swelling) were statistically significant. For patient-reported swelling, the number of positive nodes (OR 1.2) and the number of overseas flights (OR 1.4) was also significant, whereas for clinical lymphoedema age (OR 1.07) was significant. We conclude that domestic air travel (<4.5 h) is low risk and that compression devices are possibly counterproductive.
Lymphedema and Plane Flight

Exercise and Lymphedema

Randomized controlled trial of weight training and lymphedema in breast cancer survivors.
Ahmed RL, Thomas W, Yee D, Schmitz KH.

Division of Epidemiology and Community Health, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA.

PURPOSE: Lymphedema is a common condition that breast cancer survivors face. Despite a lack of supporting evidence from prospective observational studies, occupational and leisure time physical activity are feared to be possible risk factors for lymphedema onset or exacerbation. We examined effects of supervised upper- and lower-body weight training on the incidence and symptoms of lymphedema in 45 breast cancer survivors who participated in the Weight Training for Breast Cancer Survivors study. METHODS: Participants were on average 52 years old, 4 to 36 months post-treatment, and had axillary dissection as part of their treatment. Thirteen women had prevalent lymphedema at baseline. The intervention was twice-a-week weight training over a period of 6 months. Lymphedema was monitored at baseline and 6 months by measuring the circumference of each arm, and by self-report of symptoms and clinical diagnosis. RESULTS: None of the intervention-group participants experienced a change in arm circumferences > or = 2.0 cm after a 6-month exercise intervention. Self-reported incidence of a clinical diagnosis of lymphedema or symptom changes over 6 months did not vary by intervention status (P = .40 and P = .22, respectively). CONCLUSION: This is the largest randomized controlled trial to examine associations between exercise and lymphedema in breast cancer survivors. The results of this study support the hypotheses that a 6-month intervention of resistance exercise did not increase the risk for or exacerbate symptoms of lymphedema. These results herald the need to start reevaluating common clinical guidelines that breast cancer survivors avoid upper body resistance activity for fear of increasing risk of lymphedema.
PMID: 16702582 Resistance Training Does Not Worsen Lymphedema - PubMed

Weight Loss Reduces Lymphedema

A randomized controlled trial of weight reduction as a treatment for breast cancer-related lymphedema.
Shaw C, Mortimer P, Judd PA.

Department of Nutrition and Dietetics, Royal Marsden National Health Service Foundation Trust, London, United Kingdom. clare.shaw@rhs.uk

BACKGROUND: Obesity is considered a risk factor for the development of breast cancer-related lymphedema of the arm and as a poor prognostic factor in response to lymphedema treatment. The objective of this study was to examine weight reduction as a treatment for breast cancer-related lymphedema. METHODS: Twenty-one women with breast cancer-related lymphedema were randomized either to receive dietary advice for weight reduction or to receive a booklet on general healthy eating. They were monitored for 12 weeks. RESULTS: The primary outcome measure was arm volume at 12 weeks. The results indicated a significant reduction in swollen arm volume at the end of the 12-week period (P = .003) in the intervention weight-reduction group. There was a significant reduction in body weight (P = .02) and body mass index (P = .016) in the weight-reduction group at the end of the 12-week study period. CONCLUSIONS: Weight loss achieved by dietary advice to reduce energy intake can reduce breast cancer-related lymphedema significantly.

PMID: 17823909 Weight Loss Reduces Lymphedema - PubMed