Symposium

Cancer Rehabilitation

Clinical Practice (assessment, diagnosis, treatment, knowledge translation/EBP, implementation science, program development)

Breast Cancer-Related Lymphedema Clinical Practice Guidelines: From Diagnosis to Intervention (848760)

Presenter(s)

• 

  Laura Gilchrist, PT, PhD

  Professor
  St Catherine University
  Minneapolis, Minnesota

  Presentation Slides Handouts Presentation + Audio
• 

  Claire C. Davies, PT, PhD

  Research Consultant
  Baptist Health Lexington
  Lexington, Kentucky
• 

  Kimberly D. Levenhagen, PT, DPT, WCC, CLT, FNAP

  Associate Professor
  Saint Louis University
  SAINT LOUIS, Missouri
• 

  Marisa Perdomo, PT, DPT, MS Board Certified Physical Therapy Specialist

  Assistant Professor of Clinical Physical Therapy
  University of Southern California /USC Physical Therapy Assciates
  Los Angeles, California
• 

  Kathryn Ryans, PT, DPT, Board Certified Oncologic Physical Therapy Specialist

  Assistant Professor
  Mercy College
  Hamburg, New Jersey

Breast cancer-related lymphedema (BCRL) is a common side-effect of treatment that can negatively impact an individual’s quality of life (QOL). The American Physical Therapy Association’s Academy of Oncologic Physical Therapy has developed clinical practice guidelines to aid rehabilitation clinicians in diagnosing this condition and identifying evidence-based interventions for individuals with breast cancer-related lymphedema. These guidelines highlight the importance of a timely diagnosis and appropriate interventions based on clinical stage and presentation. Individuals may present with lymphedema at a various timepoints along the trajectory of cancer survivorship and clinicians need to be prepared to apply the evidence to improve patient outcomes. Results from the diagnosis guideline (published in 2017) and the intervention guideline (to be published in 2020) will be discussed using clinical applications. Future directions, including the creation of an inter-professional consortium to work collaboratively on guideline updates and the need for targeted research, will be discussed.

Learning Objectives:

• 1. Describe how clinical practice guidelines are developed.
• Identify the appropriate diagnostic tools that can be used by physical and occupational therapists to identify breast cancer-related lymphedema and identify when further testing and referral is required
• 3. Identify non-pharmacologic and non-surgical interventions supported by current best evidence to address increased limb volume.
• Apply the CPG recommendations to develop an individualized plan of care for breast cancer-related lymphedema
• 5. Identify future needs in guideline development and research around secondary upper quadrant cancer-related lymphedema.