Compression sleeves, a type of compression garment, worn after breast cancer treatment can help in decreasing the swelling of the arm, making it easier to move for performing day-to-day tasks. These results were recently published in the journal Lymphatic Research and Biology.
Lymphedema is one of the most common complications of breast cancer treatment. The lymph fluid is drained through the lymphatic channels and the lymph nodes. When these nodes or network on the upper body is damaged or removed as a part of breast cancer treatment, the lymph fluid tends to stagnate in the arm and shoulders, making it difficult to carry out daily activities, hence negatively affecting the quality of life.
Compression sleeves are a type of elastic garment that when worn, compress the tissues underneath and push the lymph fluid further, hence creating a pressure gradient to facilitate its draining. The other forms of compression garment, in addition to sleeves, are a fingerless glove and a support bra for the chest area.
As a part of this study, women who wore compression sleeves for two years after their breast cancer treatment were compared with the women who didn’t wear any compression garment. It was found that women who wore compression sleeves had decreased swelling of the arm. They also had better physical functioning, less fatigue and pain, and fewer negative arm and breast symptoms.
Therefore, women who have undergone breast cancer treatment and are grappling with the debilitating side effects of lymphedema can consider using compression sleeves in consultation with their healthcare providers. Source: Ochalek, K., Partsch, H., Gradalski, T., & Szygula, Z. (2019). Do Compression Sleeves Reduce the Incidence of Arm Lymphedema and Improve Quality of Life? Two-Year Results from a Prospective Randomized Trial in Breast Cancer Survivors. Lymphatic research and biology, 17(1), 70–77. https://doi.org/10.1089/lrb.2018.0006