Lymphedema bandaging as effective as lymphatic massage

In a study conducted to examine lymphedema treatments, the effectiveness of lymphatic massage was measured in comparison with lymphedema bandaging, and the results published by the Journal of Clinical Oncology showed that both treatment methods had similar effects.

In women with early-stage breast cancer, axillary lymph nodes play an important role in determining the spread and stage of the cancer. Axillary lymph nodes are generally evaluated through sentinel lymph node biopsy. Sentinel lymph nodes are the first lymph nodes to which cancer spreads, and if cancer is detected, the patient must undergo more extensive lymph node surgery (axillary lymph node dissection). This frequently leads to lymphedema. Lymphedema, which occurs as the most common side effect after axillary lymph node surgery, is a condition that causes swelling, tightness, and discomfort, mostly in the arms and legs, as a result of lymph fluid accumulating in the tissues beneath the skin. Lymphedema usually occurs because the lymphatic system becomes blocked or damaged after surgery or radiotherapy.

Lymphedema treatment

There is no single form of treatment for lymphedema. Multiple treatments may be administered to the patient.

These treatments;

• massage-based decongestive therapy known as lymphatic massage,
• lymphedema bandaging, and
• special exercises

may be listed as follows.

However, when retrospective data have been examined, no conclusion has been reached to date that one of these treatments is better than the other.

For this reason, in a study conducted to examine lymphedema treatments, the effectiveness of lymphatic massage was measured in comparison with lymphedema bandaging, and the results published by the Journal of Clinical Oncology showed that both treatment methods had similar effects.

The study conducted to compare the effects on patients of lymphatic massage and lymphedema bandaging used to treat lymphedema included 103 female patients. Some of the women participating in this study received lymphedema-compression bandaging alone, while others received daily manual lymphatic drainage and lymphedema-compression bandaging together. The initial results obtained over a period of 6 weeks indicated that swelling in the arm had decreased in both patient groups.

The rate of reduction in arm swelling was determined to be %29 in patients who received lymphatic massage and lymphedema bandaging, while it was found to be %22.6 in patients who used lymphedema bandaging alone. When the proportions of patients whose arm swelling decreased by %50 or more were examined, no difference was observed between the two patient groups.

For this reason, the researchers concluded that the results obtained from lymphatic massage and/or conventional lymphedema bandaging in the treatment of lymphedema did not produce a significant difference in patients.

In particular, lymphedema that develops after surgery involving the axillary lymph nodes in patients with breast cancer is treated using various methods. The study questioning the treatment effects of these methods on patients was useful in resolving potential questions patients may have about the methods used for lymphedema.