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. 2023 Jul 29;21(1):47.
doi: 10.1186/s12962-023-00455-7.

Lymphedema self-care: economic cost savings and opportunities to improve adherence

Pinar Karaca-Mandic  1 , Craig A Solid  2 , Jane M Armer  3 , Roman Skoracki  4 , Elizabeth Campione  5 , Stanley G Rockson  6
Affiliations

Lymphedema self-care: economic cost savings and opportunities to improve adherence

Pinar Karaca-Mandic et al. Cost Eff Resour Alloc. .

Abstract

Background: Breast cancer-related lymphedema (BCRL) imposes a significant economic burden on patients, providers, and society. There is no curative therapy for BCRL, but management through self-care can reduce symptoms and lower the risk of adverse events.

Main body: The economic burden of BCRL stems from related adverse events, reductions in productivity and employment, and the burden placed on non-medical caregivers. Self-care regimens often include manual lymphatic drainage, compression garments, and meticulous skin care, and may incorporate pneumatic compression devices. These regimens can be effective in managing BCRL, but patients cite inconvenience and interference with daily activities as potential barriers to self-care adherence. As a result, adherence is generally poor and often worsens with time. Because self-care is on-going, poor adherence reduces the effectiveness of regimens and leads to costly treatment of BCRL complications.

Conclusion: Novel self-care solutions that are more convenient and that interfere less with daily activities could increase self-care adherence and ultimately reduce complication-related costs of BCRL.

Keywords: Breast cancer-related lymphedema; Cancer survivors; Complications; Economic benefit; Economic burden; Pneumatic compression device; Quality of life; Self-care.

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Conflict of interest statement

PKM serves as a paid advisor to Koya Medical, serves as a consultant to Mayo Clinic for unrelated work and holds an executive position and equity in Xanthos Health, which is developing health information technology applications in social drivers of health unrelated to this work. CAS serves as a paid consultant to Koya Medical. SGR serves as a paid medical advisor to Koya Medical. JMA serves as an unpaid research consultant to Koya Medical. RS serves as an unpaid advisor to Koya Medical. EC serves as an unpaid therapist advisor to Koya Medical.

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