1Department of Health Systems and Public Health, Stellenbosch University, South Africa
2Department of Pathology, Stellenbosch University, South Africa
3Department of Global Health, Stellenbosch University, South Africa
4Department of Respiratory Intensive Care, Groote Schuur Hospital, South Africa
*Corresponding author: Jacques Lukenze Tamuzi, Division of Health Systems and Public Health, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Stellenbosch University, Cape Town, South Africa
Submission: March 22, 2018;Published: May 31, 2018
ISSN: 2640-9666Volume2 Issue2
Breast Cancer Related Lymphedema (BCRL) is a significant long-term co morbidity associated with (BC) management. BCRL impacts significantly on physical, psychosocial and economic implications of BC survivors, as a result of lymphatic system dysfunction related to breast injury. Many modifiable and non-modifiable risk factors for BCRL were identified in literature; these have contributed to cure progress and advanced knowledge on BCRL diagnosis and management at clinical stage. However, most of these studies were conducted in developed countries with limited information on such predictors and successful management strategies within African settings. Therefore, this review was conducted to summarize the available evidence on BCRL risk factors, incidence and management pathway in Democratic Republic of the Congo.
Keywords: Breast cancer; Lymphedema; Democratic republic of the congo
Abbreviations: BIS: Bioimpedance Spectrometry; BCRL: Breast Cancer Related Lymphoedema; CDT: Complex Decongestive Therapy; DRC: Democratic Republic of the Congo, LE: Lymphoedema; MLD: Manual Lymphatic Drainage; MSEP: Medically Supervised Exercises program; ISL: International Society of Lymphology; HRQOL: Health Related Quality of Life; QOL: Quality of Life; ROM: Range of Motility