HOME VOLUMETRY FORETELLS A NEW ERA OF SELF-MANAGEMENT FOR PATIENTS WITH LYMPHEDEMA AFTER BREAST CANCER

Abstract

We designed a device for quick andaccurate measurement of arm volume athome. The device is non-commercial, andplans for construction and use are widelyavailable. A single subject with arm lymphedemaused the volumeter at home for morethan one year and learned to better selfmanageher condition. She discovered thatsymptoms commonly associated withworsening lymphedema (painful, heavy arm)are often unrelated to arm volume, transient,and therefore require no treatment. She wasable to customize treatment includingmeasuring the impact of various treatmentsand devices on arm volume. In the previoussummer, the subject experienced worseningedema, which required 5 weeks of intensivetreatment. During the summer of the study,the subject found that as temperaturesincreased the decrease in arm volume shenormally experienced at night reversed,resulting in a slow and gradual increase inedema. She then tested several therapeuticinterventions and devices and found thatwearing a Class 1 sleeve at night during thesummer months was the most effective interventionto maintain her arm volume. Wepredict that home volumetry will be usefulfor the management of lymphedema andparticularly allows patients an increasedability to manage their symptoms.