The Role of Technology in the Care of Breast-Cancer Related Lymphedema: A Scoping Review

Digital technologies are increasingly being incorporated into breast cancer-related lymphedema (BCRL) care, yet their role across the continuum of care has not been comprehensively synthesized. This scoping review mapped current applications of technology-assisted care for BCRL and identified key implementation considerations relevant to clinical practice. A scoping review was conducted following the Arksey and O'Malley framework and reported according to the Preferred Reporting Items of Systematic Reviews and Meta-analyses extension for Scoping Reviews guidelines. PubMed, Scopus, EMBASE, Web of Science, and MEDLINE were searched from inception to June 2026. Nineteen studies met the inclusion criteria. Digital technologies supported prevention, surveillance and monitoring, self-management, rehabilitation, and long-term follow-up. Frequently reported technologies included bioimpedance spectroscopy, three-dimensional imaging, mobile applications, telehealth, virtual reality, and remote monitoring tools. Most studies evaluated clinical outcomes, including limb volume, symptom severity, physical function, and quality of life, whereas implementation outcomes were less frequently assessed. Reported facilitators included improved accessibility, reduced travel burden, professional support, and enhanced patient engagement. Common barriers comprised technical challenges, limited digital literacy, unequal access to technology, and patient preference for face-to-face care. This review provides the first comprehensive overview of technology-assisted care across the BCRL continuum and highlights important gaps in implementation research. The findings support integrating digital technologies into patient-centered survivorship care while emphasizing the need for equitable, sustainable, and clinically integrated implementation strategies.