The Trinity Cancer Center is one of 24 sites nationwide participating in a study to see if special exercises can help prevent lymphedema - a swelling of the arm and/or hand due to trauma to or removal of the lymph nodes - from occurring in breast cancer patients after surgery. Trinity, which serves eastern Iowa and western Illinois, is the only site in Iowa and the only one outside of Chicago in Illinois participating in the study, which seeks to enroll 560 women across the country.
According to the Journal of Clinical Oncology, one recent study found that 42 percent of women will develop lymphedema within 5 years of treatment. Lymphedema impacts not only how a person feels but also how well the person can perform activities of daily living.
To be eligible for the study, women must be recently diagnosed with breast cancer, be scheduled for surgery as part of their treatment but have not had surgery yet, be at least 18 years old and have no previous diagnosis of lymphedema.
Women who meet criteria and choose to participate will meet with a Trinity cancer research a total of five times. The first visit includes the completion of consent and survey forms and measuring of hands and arms prior to surgery. The second "baseline" visit occurs up to six weeks after surgery and includes lymphedema education, completion of surveys and measurements and meeting with a therapy specialist to learn exercises that may help prevent lymphedema.
Participants also will be fitted for an elastic sleeve at that time. Elastic sleeves are often used to prevent swelling during certain activities for those at risk of lymphedema. There is no cost to receive the sleeve for study participants.
Subsequent visits will occur six, 12 and 18 months after the baseline visit to track measurements and complete further surveys.
"Lymphedema can severely impact quality of life," said Judy Howell, RN and study coordinator. "Local participants could be helping to chart the course of post-surgical preventative care for thousands of other women across the country."
Trinity's Cancer Center has been offering national clinical trials and major prevention studies to members of the greater Quad-City area since 1987. Trinity, through an affiliation with the Cedar Rapids Oncology Project, is a part of a Community Clinical Oncology Program (CCOP), one of only 62 nationwide.
The National Cancer Institute (NCI) has recognized this CCOP for excellence in cancer research. Trinity's Cancer Center has direct access to NCI-approved cancer treatment studies through the North Central Cancer Treatment Group, located at Mayo, Rochester, the Eastern Co-operative Oncology Group, the Clinical Trials Support Unit and other national research programs. This means people living in the Quad-City area have local access to national cancer prevention studies and treatment clinical trials.
The study is funded by the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation, the Lance Armstrong Foundation, the National Cancer Institute and a private donor. For more information, contact Judy Howell at (309) 779-5059.
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