Abstract
OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to compare the incidence of breast cancer-related lymphedema (BCRL) between a control group and women with breast cancer who underwent complete decongestive therapy (CDT). Moreover, the quality of life (QOL) was assessed and compared between the intervention group receiving CDT and the control group. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A quasi-experimental design with a purposeful sampling approach was employed for enrollment. All participants had undergone surgical interventions, specifically axillary lymph node dissection (ALND), for breast cancer at a public healthcare facility between February and July 2023. Over an 18-week period, the intervention group followed a structured CDT protocol, which included receiving skin care instructions, undergoing 30-minute manual lymphatic drainage sessions on the affected arm, wearing compression sleeves for 12 hours daily, and participating in exercise sessions three times per week. RESULTS: In total 180 women, 90 in the CDT group and 90 controls were recruited. The CTD intervention group experienced a notable reduction in the incidence of BCRL development and a significant improvement in QOL across the three assessment times (baseline vs week 9 and week 9 vs week 18) during the study (p<0.001). In contrast, the control group showed an increased rate of BCRL development and a significant decline in QOL when comparing the same three time points (p<0.001). CONCLUSION: Implementing CDT within the first year following ALND led to a significant reduction in the incidence of BCRL and a marked improvement in the QOL for women with who underwent surgery and ALND for breast cancer.