Prospective Screening for Breast Cancer-related Lymphedema
Lymphedema
What this study involves
The registry says this study is recruiting. Individual locations may have different availability.
- Study type
- Observational
- Phase
- Not applicable / not listed
- Age range
- 18 years - Not specified
- Sex eligible
- Female
- Healthy volunteers
- Not accepted
- Participants
- 10000 Estimated
These are starting points, not an eligibility decision. The research team must review the full requirements.
About the research
The primary objectives of this study are twofold: 1) to detect and determine the level of symptoms, functional disability, and changes in quality of life that breast cancer patients experience from changes in their arms during and after treatment for breast cancer by collecting patient reported outcome measures, objective measurements, and clinical information in a prospectively maintained database and 2) to improve breast cancer-related lymphedema outcomes by early detection using objective measurements and symptoms assessments and assess these outcomes by maintaining the data in a database in order to contribute to the literature. The secondary aim of this study is to assess extracellular fluid content in the upper extremity, breast, and/or trunk of patients treated for breast cancer before, during, and after treatment in order to better understand the role of bioimpedance spectroscopy in lymphedema screening.
Read the full description
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.
Who may be able to participate?
The list below is the sponsor’s full registry wording. It can include conditions, prior treatment, test results and other requirements. A match in search does not mean you qualify.
Inclusion Criteria:
- Confirmed diagnosis of breast cancer
- Ability to obtain physical positioning for perometry (e.g. abducting shoulder to 90 degrees) and BIS measurements (e.g. standing without aid)
Exclusion Criteria:
- Evidence of distant metastatic disease that may cause edema,
- Previous breast cancer
- History of lymphedema
- Pregnancy at the time of accrual and/or cardiac implants (contraindications for BIS)
- Medical conditions that cause fluid retention or swelling (e.g. axillary cancer recurrence, renal insufficiency, congestive heart failure).
Study population
Newly diagnosed breast cancer patients.
Understand screeningTreatment, groups and participation
The registry may describe treatments and study duration without a complete visit calendar. Ask the study team for the exact schedule, procedures, risks, costs and alternatives. Keep your usual care plan unless your treating clinician tells you otherwise.
- Assignment
- Not reported
- Masking
- Not reported
Breast Cancer
Not reported in this registry record.
Other: Breast Cancer-Related Lymphedema Screening
Breast Cancer-Related Lymphedema Screening OTHER
All patients enrolled in the trial will receive prospective BCRL screening from their pre-operative baseline throughout their breast cancer treatment process. All participants will be measured with perometry, bioimpedance spectroscopy, and patient-reported outcome measures.
What researchers are measuring
Outcome measures describe what is being studied. They are not proof that a treatment works.
Primary measures
Upper extremity changes following treatment for breast cancer
Time frame: 1.5 to 5 years
During and following treatment for breast cancer patients' experience a variety of changes in their upper extremities. The subject responses to the patient-reported outcome measures (BCLE-SEI questionnaire) obtained throughout their breast cancer treatment process will be analyzed in conjunction with arm volume measurements taken with both perometry and bioimpedance spectroscopy. This will allow for the correlation between quantifiable limb volume changes and subject documented changes in arm use and functionality and quality of life.
Review the complete result tables and limitations in the official record.
Open official results ↗Research locations (1)
The overall study status and a local site’s status can differ. Confirm that location’s availability before traveling.
1 locations
Massachusetts General HospitalBoston, Massachusetts, United StatesRecruiting
Study team and timeline
- Lead sponsor
- Massachusetts General Hospital
- Study start
- 2009-08
- Primary completion
- 2027-10 Estimated
- Study completion
- 2027-12 Estimated
- First posted
- Jan 31, 2012 Estimated
- Last updated
- Nov 10, 2026 Actual
Official study contacts
No central contact is listed. Check the locations and the official record.
Official study title
Prospective Screening for Breast Cancer-related Lymphedema: Analysis of Objective Measurements, Symptoms, Functionality, and Quality of Life Questionnaires to Evaluate Lymphedema in Patients Following Treatment for Breast Cancer.
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Source: ClinicalTrials.gov API v2. Information is submitted by sponsors and investigators. NLM does not approve the safety or science of all listed studies. Registry disclaimer.
Retrieved: Nov 12, 2026 · Last registry update: Nov 10, 2026