Empowered Patient Podcast Accurate Early Detection and Monitoring of Lymphedema in Breast Cancer Patients with Maureen McBeth ImpediMed
Maureen McBeth, Senior Medical Affairs Liaison for ImpediMed, a company that develops bio-impedance spectroscopy technology for the early detection and monitoring of lymphedema. This swelling, a common side effect of breast cancer surgery, is often overlooked until it impacts the quality of life of the patient. Using this advanced diagnostic technology, objective data on the risk and progression enables personalized intervention at the mild stage to prevent progression to severe, irreversible stages.
Maureen explains, "Breast cancer-related lymphedema is an underappreciated side effect. Most people think that it's not an issue anymore because we do sentinel node biopsy. Still, we know that any time lymph nodes are removed, damaged, or radiated, they can cause problems with the plumbing system in that area of the body. And inflammation starts, and that's the first thing. People don't feel that, but over time, it starts to impact the lymphatic vessels, and those lymphatic vessels don't pump as well, and a fluid buildup starts to occur. Finally, a patient may start to have symptoms like an aching or a fullness, or they notice things don't fit right, and by the time they notice it, they're likely well into stage one lymphedema, which has noticeable symptoms."
"And 20 years ago, when we didn't have these methods to detect it early, we often didn't see patients even with that at stage one. We wouldn't see them until the arm got really big and noticeable. If you can imagine, the guidelines said that the arm had to be 10% larger than the other side before we would diagnose it with lymphedema. Imagine your arm being 10% bigger on one side."
"One of the important things about our technology is that it's about a 30-second test. In terms of non-invasive, the patient doesn't feel it. It gives us this L-Dex score, and we can get other things like body composition. And so, at the start of someone's treatment, it can be used not only for surveillance of lymphedema but also for other side effects of cancer treatment."
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