Compression Vest Treatment for Symptomatic Breast Edema in Women Treated for Breast Cancer: A Pilot Study

Breast lymphedema following breast-conserving treatment for breast cancer: current status and future directions

PURPOSE

To examine the current evidence on breast lymphedema (BL) diagnosis and treatment after breast-conserving surgery, identify gaps in the literature, and propose future research directions.

METHODS

A comprehensive literature review was conducted using Ovid, PubMed, and Cochrane, including studies published between 2000 and 2023. References were reviewed manually for eligible studies. Inclusion criteria were as follows: patients who underwent breast conserving treatment (surgery ± radiation) for breast cancer, goals of the paper included analyzing or reviewing BL measurement with ultrasound or tissue dielectric constant, or BL treatment. Twenty-seven manuscripts were included in the review.

RESULTS

There is variation in incidence, time course, and risk factors for BL. Risk factors for BL included breast size, primary and axillary surgery extent, radiation, and chemotherapy but require further investigation. Diagnostic methods for BL currently rely on patient report and lack standardized criteria. Tissue dielectric constant (TDC) and ultrasound (US) emerged as promising ambulatory BL assessment tools; however, diagnostic thresholds and validation studies with ICG lymphography are needed to establish clinical utility. The evidence base for treatment of BL is weak, lacking high-quality studies.

CONCLUSION

The natural history of BL is not well defined. TDC and US show promise as ambulatory assessment tools for BL; however, further validation with lymphatic imaging is required. BL treatment is not established in the literature. Longitudinal, prospective studies including pre-radiation measurements and validating with lymphatic imaging are required. These data will inform screening, diagnostic criteria, and evidence-based treatment parameters for patients with BL after breast-conserving surgery and radiation.

OptiBra study, a randomized controlled trial on optimal postoperative bra support after breast cancer surgery

AIM

This randomized controlled trial aimed to compare two different postoperative bras after breast cancer surgery and evaluate their impact on primary outcome pain.

METHOD

The study included 201 patients scheduled for primary surgery (breast conserving surgery with sentinel node biopsy or axillary clearance, mastectomy, or mastectomy with primary implant reconstruction with sentinel node biopsy or axillary clearance). Participants were randomized to either a soft bra or stable bra with compression. The patients were recommended to use the bra 24 h/day for 3 weeks, record daily pain (NRS), analgesic use and hours of bra use.

RESULTS

Follow up was completed by 184 patients. No significant differences between the arms were found considering pain score over time, neither day 1-14, nor after 3 weeks. Sixty-eight percent of all patients, regardless of randomization, reported pain during the first 14 days. After 3 weeks 46% still reported pain in the operated breast. Among these, patients randomized to the stable bra with compression reported significantly lower pain score than those randomized to the soft bra. Patients who used the stable bra with compression reported significantly higher levels of comfort, sense of security during activity, less difficulty moving the arm, as well as support and stability for the operated breast compared to those using the soft bra.

CONCLUSION

Using a stable bra with compression is the optimal evidence-based choice after breast cancer surgery to reduce remaining pain 3 weeks after surgery, increasing mobility, comfort, and sense of security.

TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER

NCT04059835 at www.

CLINICALTRIALS

gov.

Hyperbaric oxygen therapy for local late radiation toxicity in breast cancer patients: A systematic review

PURPOSE

This systematic review aims to provide an overview of the literature on the effect of hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) on symptoms of local late radiation toxicity (LRT) in patients treated for breast cancer.

METHODS

A systematic search was performed in September 2021. All studies with a sample size of ≥10 patients reporting the effect of HBOT for symptoms of LRT after radiotherapy of the breast and/or chest wall were included. The ROBINS-I tool was used for critical appraisal of methodological quality. The toxicity outcomes pain, fibrosis, lymphedema, necrosis/skin problems, arm and shoulder mobility, and breast and arm symptoms were evaluated.

RESULTS

Nine studies concerning a total of 1308 patients were included in this review. Except for one study, sample sizes were small. Most studies had inadequate methodology with a substantial risk of bias. Post-HBOT, a significant reduction of pain was observed in 4/5 studies, of fibrosis in 1/2 studies, and of lymphedema of the breast and/or arm in 4/7 studies. Skin problems of the breast were significantly reduced in 1/2 studies, arm- and shoulder mobility significantly improved in 2/2 studies, and breast- and arm symptoms were significantly reduced in one study.

CONCLUSION

This systematic review indicates that HBOT might be useful for reducing symptoms of LRT in breast cancer patients, however evidence is limited. A randomized controlled trial in a larger cohort of patients including a combination of patient- and clinician-reported outcome measures would be valuable to assess the effect of HBOT on symptoms of LRT.

The Breast Edema Enigma: Features, Diagnosis, Treatment, and Recommendations

Breast edema most commonly occurs after breast cancer treatment involving breast-conserving therapy, although it may have a variety of other causes. As compared to research on breast cancer treatment-related lymphedema, breast edema and its objective measurement and diagnosis is far behind. Consequences of this disparity contribute to uncertainty and variability in its diagnosis, its treatment, and even the characterization of its incidence and morbidity. Moreover, consensus on a standardized definition, objective diagnostic method, and treatment techniques for breast edema has not yet been reached, making it difficult to provide appropriate guidelines with respect to its management. Given the recent rise in breast edema incidence as an outcome of the increasing use of breast-conserving therapy, this timely review examines the current state of breast edema assessment and makes a case for standardization in part via quantitative methods to diagnose and track breast edema.