Complete Decongestive Therapy, Weight Control and Exercise for Breast Cancer-Related Lymphedema of the Upper Limb: A Review of Systematic Reviews and a Feasibility Trial

Physical therapists and physical therapist assistants who treat breast cancer survivors with upper limb lymphedema, in outpatient oncology rehabilitation, women’s health, or general outpatient settings, and clinicians who field questions from patients about whether losing weight or exercising will change their arm swelling.

Physical therapists and physical therapist assistants

Intended audience

Physical Therapy

Level

Intermediate

Delivery format

Online, asynchronous, self-paced course: interactive reading with audio or video, and a scored post-test.

Based on

Gilchrist L, Levenhagen K, Davies CC, Koehler L. Effectiveness of complete decongestive therapy for upper extremity breast cancer-related lymphedema: a review of systematic reviews. Med Oncol. 2024;41(11):297. doi:10.1007/s12032-024-02421-6

Harvie M, Livingstone K, McMulllan D, Pegington M, Lombardelli C, Adams J, Farragher M, Barrett E, Bundred N. BE-WEL trial (breast: evaluation of weight and exercise for lymphoedema) testing weight control and exercise programmes for women with breast cancer related lymphoedema: a feasibility trial. Breast Cancer Res Treat. 2024;207(1):203-212. doi:10.1007/s10549-024-07356-0

After completing this course, you will be able to:

1. Describe what the review of systematic reviews reported about complete decongestive therapy for arm volume, and what it reported about manual lymph drainage and exercise as separate components of that care.
2. State what the BE-WEL feasibility trial found for uptake, retention, weight and relative arm volume across its four groups, and explain what a feasibility design can and cannot establish.
3. Distinguish the points on which the two papers agree from the points on which they diverge, naming which paper reported which finding about the added value of weight control and exercise.

1. Start Here: Course Overview and Audio Introduction (about 24 minutes)
2. Part One: Complete Decongestive Therapy for Upper Extremity Breast Cancer-Related Lymphedema
3. Why Decongestive Therapy Was Reviewed and What Evidence Was Eligible
4. How the Reviews Were Searched and Their Quality Judged
5. What the Reviews Reported on Volume, Manual Lymph Drainage and Exercise
6. Meaningful Change, Lymphedema Stage and What the Authors Concluded
7. Part Two: Weight Control and Arm Exercise for Women Living With Breast Cancer-Related Lymphedema
8. Who Joined the BE-WEL Trial and Why Weight Control Was Tested
9. Four Groups, Twelve Weeks: How the Programs Were Delivered and Measured
10. Uptake, Retention, Weight Change and Arm Volume Results
11. What a Feasibility Trial Can and Cannot Show About Lymphedema Care
12. Bringing It Together
13. Where the Two Papers Agree
14. Where They Diverge and Which Paper Reported What
15. Fitting Decongestive Care, Weight Control and Exercise Across an Episode of Care
16. What Remains Unsettled and What the Authors Say Is Needed Next
17. Key Takeaways
18. Post-Test and Course Evaluation

Quinn Millington, PT, DPT, ECS is the instructor of record: the licensed clinician who reviewed this course and signed off on it. The name and credentials print on the certificate.

Disclosures. This course was developed by The ConEd Solution, which has a financial interest in its sale. No outside funding or sponsorship was received. The instructor of record has no affiliation with the authors of the source publication or their institutions.

This course awards 1.0 contact hour (60 min). How you earn them:

1. Complete the course. Every lesson, in order.
2. Pass the post-test. Score 80% or higher. Retakes are allowed.
3. Complete the evaluation. A short form rating each learning objective and the course.
4. Download your certificate. It is issued on completion and stays available in My Account.

The episode time is its measured length. Reading, post-test and evaluation times are estimates.

This course is designed to satisfy the quality requirements state boards set for continuing education. Requirements vary by state, and confirming that a course fits your renewal is up to you. Each state’s own acceptance statement is in the credit panel on this page.

1. Gilchrist L, Levenhagen K, Davies CC, Koehler L. Effectiveness of complete decongestive therapy for upper extremity breast cancer-related lymphedema: a review of systematic reviews. Med Oncol. 2024;41(11):297. doi:10.1007/s12032-024-02421-6
2. Harvie M, Livingstone K, McMulllan D, Pegington M, Lombardelli C, Adams J, Farragher M, Barrett E, Bundred N. BE-WEL trial (breast: evaluation of weight and exercise for lymphoedema) testing weight control and exercise programmes for women with breast cancer related lymphoedema: a feasibility trial. Breast Cancer Res Treat. 2024;207(1):203-212. doi:10.1007/s10549-024-07356-0