Project 460954

Lymphedema, a significant swelling of the arm that occurs on the side of the breast cancer, is one of the more frequent and feared complications following surgery for breast cancer. It is a lifelong condition affecting approximately 20% of women who undergo treatment for their breast cancer. In 2001, an expert panel of clinicians from across Canada published the first Canadian Clinical Practice Guideline for the care and treatment of breast cancer related lymphedema. Given advances in the field over the last 20 years, an update to the guideline is long overdue. Prior to undertaking the proposed guideline update, a meeting was held involving researchers and clinicians with expertise in breast cancer related lymphedema, as well as patient representatives. Twenty stakeholders from across Canada took part in the initial meeting. A framework for the updated guideline was developed based on four main categories: 1) diagnosis, 2) risk reduction, 3) management, 4) measurement outcomes and surveillance. Our team has completed of a comprehensive literature review and appraisal of existing guidelines from other countries using the AGREE II tool. We are currently working to adapt, amalgamate and incorporate recommendations for the Canadian guideline. The objective of the proposed meeting and associated activities is to detail a plan for dissemination of the guideline recommendations. Specifically, we aim to: 1. Obtain feedback on the draft updated guideline from international experts and stakeholder groups. 2. Disseminate findings to stakeholder groups through webinars, conferences, social media platforms and an open-access publication. 3. Create of a series of four 1-to-2 minute video presentations of guideline recommendations in both official languages. Through this work, we aim to provide updated recommendations to individuals with, and at risk of lymphedema and their physicians on the diagnosis, risk reduction and management of breast cancer related lymphedema.