Comparing the Effect of Complex Decongestive Physical Therapy with Combination of Intermittent Pneumatic Compression Pump and Complex Decongestive Physical Therapy on Secondary Upper Extremity Lymphedema Volume and Quality of Life in Patients with Breast Cancer

Introduction: Breast cancer is one of the most common cancers among women. One complication after mastectomy following breast cancer is ipsilateral upper extremity lymphedema. This study aims to compare the effect of complex decongestive physical (CDP) therapy with a combination of intermittent pneumatic compression pump and CDP therapy on secondary upper extremity lymphedema volume and quality of life in patients after mastectomy following breast cancer.Material and Methods: A total of 20 women with secondary upper extremity lymphedema after mastectomy following breast cancer were selected according to criteria. After the initial assessment, the patients were randomly divided into two groups. One group was treated with CDP therapy techniques, and another group was treated with intermittent compression pump in addition to CDP therapy techniques. These techniques were included manual lymphatic drainage, bandaging, therapeutic exercise, skin care, and intermittent compression pump. Patients were treated for 2 weeks and 5 days/week. Lymphedema volume and quality of life were evaluated before and after treatment. The quality of life was assessed by cancer-specific questionnaire (QLQ-C30) and breast cancer-specific quality of life questionnaire (QLQ-Br23), and lymphedema volume was measured by volumeter.Results: The mean of lymphedema volume was significantly decreased after treatment as compared with before treatment in both groups (P 0.050). The scores of all items of quality of life except of cognitive and sexual items of both questionnaires were significantly increased after treatment as compared with before treatment in both groups (P 0.050). There was no significant difference in lymphedema volume and quality of life scores between two groups (P 0.050).Conclusion: The results of this study showed that the combination of CDP therapy and intermittent compression pump are useful for improving the affected limb lymphedema volume and quality of life.