Breast cancer-related lymphedema (BCLE) is the major predictor for poor quality of life, emotional distress, and impaired daily living function among breast cancer survivors.
1,2 Currently, no medical and surgical interventions can provide a cure for this debilitating and chronic condition. Patients after breast cancer treatment have a lifelong risk for BCLE. Multiple risk factors have been identified, including late cancer stage, axillary lymph node dissection, number of lymph nodes removed, mastectomy, radiotherapy, chemotherapy, and high body mass index.
3 Traditionally, patients are instructed to avoid certain daily-living activities or incidents after breast cancer treatment, such as using the affected arm and hand to lift objects, carrying shoulder bag, avoiding infection, sunburn, cutting cuticles, oil splash, and steam burn.
4 To date, limited research evidence is available to validate whether these daily-living activities or incidents increase the risk of BCLE. …
