Prospective Screening for Breast Cancer-related Lymphedema

The goal of the study is to create a large, prospectively maintained database with data

from multiple objective measurement methods (i.e. perometry and BIS) that has detailed

information on patient's symptoms and quality of life measures that can be used to answer

research questions.

The study design is prospective in nature, and a questionnaire will be utilized in

conjunction with objective measurements before, throughout, and after a patient's

treatment for breast cancer. This protocol is designed to mimic the current standard of

care screening program with the addition of the quality of life questionnaire and BIS

measurements.

Data collection will include medical chart review, perometric arm volume measurements,

BIS measurements, and a subjective questionnaire. At their preoperative multidisciplinary

breast cancer clinic appointment, patients will undergo baseline arm volume measurements

per standard of care. At this time, eligible patients will be offered this study. Those

who consent will be given a baseline questionnaire to fill out and have baseline BIS

measurements taken. Throughout their treatment and follow-up, patients will periodically

have BCRL screening every 2-12 months depending on their risk (i.e. patients who are high

risk for BCRL because of extensive lymph node surgery will be measured more often than

patients who did not have lymph nodes removed). These screening visits will coincide with

naturally occurring oncology follow-up visits; although, patients are also screened when

patient or provider requests and questionnaires/BIS measurements will be offered at these

time points as well.