International Study Demonstrates Prevention of Chronic Breast Cancer Lymphoedema results by adopting Prospective Surveillance Model of Practice

Over a 3 year period, an international study was conducted on Comparison of Bioimpedance Spectroscopy or Tape Measure Triggered Compression Intervention in Chronic Breast Cancer Related Lymphoedema Prevention. Healthcare professionals were provided updates on the outcomes during that time, hence the early adoption of Impedimed’s SOZO BIS technology into the Cancer Rehabilitation & Lymphatic Solutions clinic in Erina in 2017.

Innovator and pioneer in this space, Kate Perkins, Founder of the Cancer Rehabilitation & Lymphatic Solutions clinic, outlines below some key findings from this latest International Randomised Control Trial (RCT) study which was conducted over the period from 2014 – 2018 regarding Chronic Breast Cancer Lymphoedema Prevention results.

Key findings from the study:

• 92% of patients with early detection using L-Dex® and intervention did not progress to chronic lymphoedema.
• Significantly lower progression to chronic lymphoedema with early detection using SOZO Bioimpedence L-Dex® and intervention versus tape measure.
• L-Dex is more precise and reliable than tape measure.

Additionally, the study met its primary endpoint, which establishes L-Dex® as the standard approach for lymphoedema early detection.

What is Chronic Breast Cancer Related Lymphoedema?

Chronic Breast Cancer Related Lymphoedema (C-BCRL) can be the result of long-term intensive breast cancer related treatments including surgery, chemotherapy and radiation treatment.

C-BCRL can lead to pain, limited range of movement, heaviness, infections and reduced quality of life. It can also involve costly follow-up treatments, compression garments and intensive lymphoedema therapy.

Early detection is critical and made possible with SOZO

Diagnosis of C-BCRL is usually made when signs or symptoms have been reported and physically identified. Before these physical signs or symptoms have been identified, sub-clinical changes have already occurred, including an increase of extracellular fluid within the tissue.

The use of Bioimpedence Spectroscopy (BIS) technology and the SOZO allows for the early detection of sub-clinical increases of extracellular fluid changes before they can be seen or felt.

This study demonstrated that early detection of sub-clinical breast cancer related lymphoedema (S-BCRL) using SOZO LDex®, with the prescription of 4 weeks of compression garment therapy reduced the rate of progression to C-BCRL, compared to using Tape Measure screening of a limb which had already shown an increase in limb volume.

SOZO BIS serves as a superior method of screening to determine who will best benefit from an early/preventive intervention to achieve the reversal of sub-clinical BRCL, a condition that can lead to chronic BCRL.

Kate Perkins at Cancer Rehabilitation & Lymphatic Solutions has been an early adopter of the SOZO BIS technology since 2017, and the Prospective Surveillance model of practice, based on the evidence, (Evidence Based Practice). This in turn helps to reduce the risk of breast cancer patients developing C -BCRL based on a level of risk factors – determined by the type of breast cancer treatment.

The caring, supportive and highly experienced team at Cancer Rehabilitation & Lymphatic Solutions are here help, please contact us on (02) 4312 7033.