Related Experiment Video
Updated: Dec 7, 2025
Integrating Augmented Reality Tools in Breast Cancer Related Lymphedema Prognostication and Diagnosis
Published on: February 6, 2020
Prospective surveillance model in the home for breast cancer-related lymphoedema: a feasibility study
Louise A Koelmeyer1, Emma Moloney2, John Boyages2,3
1Australian Lymphoedema Education, Research and Treatment (ALERT) Program, Department of Clinical Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Health and Human Sciences, Macquarie University, Sydney, Australia. Louise.koelmeyer@mq.edu.au.
Purpose:
The aim of this study was to assess the feasibility of delivering a prospective surveillance model in the home over 6 months for women at high risk of developing lymphoedema.
Methods:
A single-group, intervention study recruited 20 women who had surgical and medical treatment for confirmed node-positive invasive breast cancer and therefore at high risk of developing arm lymphoedema. Participants received a package including Bioimpedance Spectroscopy (BIS) monitoring, lymphoedema education and support to promote self-management and physical activity.
Results:
Participants adhered to BIS monitoring 74% of the time, and felt extremely confident in using the device. By 6 months, mean BIS L-Dex scores had increased from 3.5 (SD 5.6) to 8.4 (SD 11.1); five women (25%) who experienced > + 6.5 increase in L-Dex score were fitted with a compression garment. Self-reported symptoms and distress decreased by 0.4 out of 10 (95% CI 0.1 to 0.7); number of self-management strategies used increased by 0.6 (95% CI 0.1 to 1.2); and planned exercise increased by 2.8 h/week (95% CI 0.4 to 5.2).
Conclusions:
These findings indicate a prospective surveillance model of care in the home with BIS is feasible and associated with increased self-management. A Phase II randomised trial is warranted as well as research exploring the costs associated with implementing this model of care for high-risk individuals.
