Manual Lymphatic Drainage Breast Massage in Breast Cancer Patients After Breast Conserving Surgery

Description

PRIMARY OBJECTIVE:

I. Evaluate the feasibility of breast manual lymphatic drainage (MLD) on breast cancer patients receiving adjuvant breast radiation therapy after breast conserving surgery.

SECONDARY OBJECTIVES:

I. Evaluate the tolerability of breast manual lymphatic drainage (MLD) on breast cancer patients receiving adjuvant breast radiation therapy after breast conserving surgery.

II. Preliminarily assess the effect on acute and chronic breast edema, pain, functional status, quality of life, body image and radiation induced fibrosis (RIF).

OUTLINE:

Patients undergo MLD breast massage over 30-60 minutes twice a week (BIW) for the duration of standard of care (SOC) radiation therapy and for 1 month thereafter.

After completion of SOC radiation therapy, patients are followed up at 2-4 weeks and 3, 6, and 12 months.