Lymphedema Prevention in Breast Cancer

Summary

OBJECTIVE: To find out the effectiveness of early application of physical therapy in the prevention of lymphedema after breast surgery and lymphadenectomy.

DESIGN: Randomized, controlled and single blinded clinical trial. Three years duration. Patients will be randomly assigned to one of these groups: Experimental group: Early physical therapy + training in means of prevention; Control group: just training in means of prevention. In both groups several physical therapy assessments will be undertaken: 1st before surgery; 2nd immediately after surgery; 3rd after completing intervention; 4th, 5th and 6th after 3, 6, 12 and 24 months.

SUBJECTS: Women with breast cancer treated with breast surgery including lymphadenectomy in Principe de Asturias Hospital, provided that there is no contraindication for physical therapy, and after reading, understanding and freely signing an informed consent form.

SAMPLE SIZE: A total of 116 subjects will be included in the study (58 subjects in each group), assuming a 15% of drop-outs and at least 20% reduction, with a statistical power of 60%.

DATA ANALYSIS: To find out the effectiveness of intervention we will compare the rate of lymphedema in both groups by means of a logistic regression analysis, in which the main factor is the intervention group. Other factors aimed to control the effect of the intervention will also be included. In order to compare the rate of appearance of lymphedema in both groups, a survival analysis will also be included.

Conditions

• BREAST CANCER
• LYMPHEDEMA

Interventions

OTHER

Early Physical Therapy and Educational strategy

Experimental group: physical therapy including a manual lymph-drainage technique, progressive massage of the scar, and progressive active and action-assisted shoulder exercises started in conjunction with functional activities and proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation without resistance and Educational strategy including instruction with printed materials about the lymphatic system, concepts of normal load versus overload, lymphedema source, the identification of possible precipitating factors,etc. Other: control group: only the educational strategy

Sponsors & Collaborators

• University of Alcala

  lead OTHER

Principal Investigators

• María Torres Lacomba, Prof. · Alcalá University

• Maria José Yuste Sánchez, Prof. · Alcalá University

• Álvaro Zapico Goñi, MD · Principe de Asturias Hospital University

• David Prieto Merino · Department of Epidemiology and Population Health, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, UK

• Orlando Mayoral del Moral, Prof. · Provincial Hospital.

Study Design

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Purpose

PREVENTION

Masking

SINGLE

Model

PARALLEL

Eligibility

Min Age

18 Years

Max Age

70 Years

Sex

FEMALE

Healthy Volunteers

No

Timeline & Regulatory

Start

2005-05-31

Primary Completion

2009-06-30

Completion

2009-12-31

Countries

• Spain

Study Locations