Effect of Exercise on Breast Cancer–Related Lymphedema: What the Lymphatic Surgeon Needs to Know

Panchik, Daniel; Masco, Sarah; Zinnikas, Patrice; Hillriegel, Brooke; Lauder, Tori; Suttmann, Erica; Chinchilli, Vernon M.; McBeth, Maureen; Hermann, William J.

doi:10.1055/s-0038-1660832

Cited by 56 publications

(57 citation statements)

References 36 publications

(61 reference statements)

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“…Traditionally, patients with lymphedema or who are at risk for lymphedema tend to reduce physical exercise due to concerns about disease exacerbation (100). Some preliminary studies have indicated that exercise neither causes lymphedema nor worsens the disease (101)(102)(103)(104)(105). A slowly progressive weight-lifting program does not increase the rate of lymphedema compared with no exercise, and aerobic exercise, resistance training, stretching, yoga, qigong and pilates are also safe (101,105).…”

Section: Treatmentmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Some preliminary studies have indicated that exercise neither causes lymphedema nor worsens the disease (101)(102)(103)(104)(105). A slowly progressive weight-lifting program does not increase the rate of lymphedema compared with no exercise, and aerobic exercise, resistance training, stretching, yoga, qigong and pilates are also safe (101,105). Under specific circumstances, resistance training can even substantially improve the lymphedema state and may prevent the development of secondary lymphedema in patients (106).…”

Section: Treatmentmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Lymphedema in survivors of breast cancer (Review)

et al. 2020

Oncol Lett

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The tremendous improvement of survival in patients with breast cancer can be attributed to several treatment strategies, but these strategies also lead to the occurrence of breast cancer-related lymphedema (BCRL). BRCL is regularly associated with factors such as axillary lymph node dissection and local lymph node radiotherapy and manifests as an increase of >10% in the volume of affected limbs. Being overweight or having obesity (body mass index ≥25 kg/m 2 ), an excessive number of positive lymph nodes (>8) and capsular invasion by a tumor are additional risk factors for lymphedema. It is worth assessing the risk before surgery as this can prevent the occurrence of BCRL at the initial stage of breast cancer management. The clinical utility of many diagnostic tools and lymphedema surveillance allows early stage and even subclinical BCRL to be diagnosed, and allows real-time monitoring of the disease. The early diagnosis of BRCL allows treatment at an early stage, which is beneficial to the reduction of excess limb volume and the improvement of quality of life. At present, the major therapeutic methods of BCRL include complex decongestive therapy, pneumatic compression devices, participating in exercise, microsurgery and liposuction, each of which alleviates lymphedema effectively. No medications for treatment of BRCL have yet been developed. However, the recent findings on the success of molecular therapy in animal models may remedy this deficiency. Furthermore, the volume reduction of swollen limbs without swelling rebound by transplanting autologous stem cells has been successfully reported in some pilot studies, which may provide a new technique for treating BCRL. This review aimed to discuss the pathogenesis, clinical manifestation, risk factors, advantages and disadvantages of diagnostic tools, lymphedema surveillance and the characteristics of traditional and newly emerging BCRL treatments.

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Section: Treatmentmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Treatmentmentioning

confidence: 99%

Lymphedema in survivors of breast cancer (Review)

et al. 2020

Oncol Lett

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“…[18][19][20] Practicing different physical exercises such as aerobics, endurance exercises, stretching, yoga, qi gong, and Pilates have proved to be safe and efficient in the management of symptoms in patients with lymphedema or with a risk of developing it, according to a systematic review of 26 articles carried out recently. 21 However, the therapeutic myolymphokinetic exercises have greater visibility since they are found in CDT and were performed in this study in compliance with a protocol of gradual warm up of muscle chains, exercises for increased joint range and muscle stretching and relaxation. 22 According to a systematic review about manual lymphatic drainage for lymphedema after breast cancer, the technique is considered to be safe and well tolerated, but there is a lack of studies that used only drainage for group comparison.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Profile of women with lymphedema after breast cancer treatment

et al. 2019

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Objective: To identify the profile of women with lymphedema after breast cancer treatment. Methods: This is a descriptive, retrospective and quantitative study with data from medical records of women with lymphedema who began treatment between 2010 and 2015 in a rehabilitation center. An instrument was used for data collection to characterize the participants and analysis was performed by means of descriptive statistics, the Chi-Square test and Fisher’s exact test. Results: 235 women with a mean age of 56.8 years were included, with an association between lymphedema and age (p = 0.016). It was observed that 76.6% of the sample had some comorbidity associated with breast cancer, especially hypertension (48.1%). They underwent radical surgery (60%), axillary lymphadenectomy (77.9%), sentinel lymph node biopsy (16.6%) and radiotherapy (74%). Treatments carried out for lymphedema were decongestant therapy and complementary treatments with 95.7% of adherence of women to therapies. Conclusion and implications for practice: Women with lymphedema presented risk factors such as radical surgery, axillary lymphadenectomy and radiotherapy, and good adherence to the required treatments of lymphedema. Knowing the profile of this population is crucial to the treatment choice.

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“…Hence, is adipogenesis a direct outcome of lymphedema or is it indirectly caused by chronic immobility that is associated with lymphedema? This important question was addressed in part by recent studies, which have suggested that exercise (yoga, stretching, strength training) could improve breast cancer-related lymphedema (Baumann et al, 2018;Panchik et al, 2019). These studies must be very encouraging to lymphedema patients as they suggest that lymphedema-associated adipogenesis could be controlled by exercise.…”

Section: Clinical Correlations Between Obesity and Lymphedemamentioning

confidence: 99%

Lymphatic Vasculature in Energy Homeostasis and Obesity

Srinivasan

2020

Front. Physiol.

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Obesity is a leading cause of cardiovascular diseases and cancer. Body mass is regulated by the balance between energy uptake and energy expenditure. The etiology of obesity is determined by multiple factors including genetics, nutrient absorption, and inflammation. Lymphatic vasculature is starting to be appreciated as a critical modulator of metabolism and obesity. The primary function of lymphatic vasculature is to maintain interstitial fluid homeostasis. Lymphatic vessels absorb fluids that extravasate from blood vessels and return them to blood circulation. In addition, lymphatic vessels absorb digested lipids from the intestine and regulate inflammation. Hence, lymphatic vessels could be an exciting target for treating obesity. In this article, we will review our current understanding regarding the relationship between lymphatic vasculature and obesity, and highlight some open questions.

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Effect of Exercise on Breast Cancer–Related Lymphedema: What the Lymphatic Surgeon Needs to Know

Cited by 56 publications

References 36 publications

Lymphedema in survivors of breast cancer (Review)

Lymphedema in survivors of breast cancer (Review)

Profile of women with lymphedema after breast cancer treatment

Lymphatic Vasculature in Energy Homeostasis and Obesity

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