Treatment Pathway of Patients Suffering From a Breast Cancer Related Lymphoedema

The main objective of the study is to assess the proportion of successfully treated patients (success rate).

That is to say patients having a reduction of excess arm volume ≥ 30% after 5 days of three types of treatment for secondary lymphoedema :

Group 1: standard intensive decongestive therapy for 5 days (bandages + manual lymphatic drainage).

Group 2: standard intensive decongestive therapy (bandages + manual lymphatic drainage) + Cellu M6 for 5 days Group 3: Bandages + Cellu M6 for 5 days

Symptomatic treatment of lymphoedema reference is intensive decongestive therapy including manual lymphatic drainage, compression of multicomponent bandaging, therapeutic exercise and skin care (HAS 2012 ISL International Society of Lymphology, 2013).

Inclusion criteria

• Patients suffering from a lymphoedema consequence of a breast cancer of grades 2 or 3 (ISL)
• Patients suffering from Lymphoedema for 6 months or more
• Patients with a difference between arms >10%
• Patients who had ever had an axillary node dissection
• Patients hospitalized for intensive standard treatment.

Exclusion criteria

• Primary lymphoedema
• Venous insufficiency of the upper members
• severe arterial obstruction
• obliterating arteritis of the upper limbs
• Bilateral lymphoedema
• Breast cancer recurrence
• Another cancer in treatment
• Decompensated heart failure
• Pacemaker
• acute infection
• Deep venous thrombosis
• Skin atrophy of the upper member
• Bullous dermatosis
• Acute dermatitis with epidermitis or dermatitis-hypodermitis
• Infected wound
• Inflammatory scar or consequence of a recent surgery (<1 month)
• Presence of osteosynthesis equipment under the skin with an external part in the upper member to treat
• Hyperalgesia of the shoulder
• Pregnancy.