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Rationale: Lymphoedema is swelling of soft tissues in the limbs or other parts of the body due to a back-log of fluid. It is a common problem in cancer patients and can negatively affect quality of life by causing discomfort, disfigurement and loss of function and/or mobility. Various treatments are used to try to manage lymphoedema but none have a strong evidence base for cancer-related lymphoedema in the relatively frail population of patients receiving palliative care.

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Key Aim (s): To explore the patterns of use, effectiveness, side effect and complication profile of three treatment strategies – 1) diuretics, 2) compression and related therapies, and 3) subcutaneous needle drainage – in the management of cancer-related limb lymphoedema in the palliative care patient cohort.

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Potential Impact: This collaborative work undertaken with PaCCSC (hyperlink) will inform key therapies to be further tested in clinical trials and guide practice to manage this difficult symptom.

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Key contact: Beth Russell beth.russell@svha.org.au

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Funding: Collaboration with Palliative Care Clinical Studies Collaborative