Early and locally advanced breast cancer: diagnosis and management

The UK National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) provides national guidance and advice to improve health and social care.

The early and locally advanced breast cancer: diagnosis and management guideline has a section on lymphoedema.

1.12 Complications of local treatment and menopausal symptoms

Lymphoedema

1.12.1 Inform people with breast cancer about the risk of developing lymphoedema, and give them relevant written information before treatment with surgery and radiotherapy. [2009]

1.12.2 Give advice on how to prevent infection that may cause or exacerbate lymphoedema to people who have had treatment for breast cancer. [2009, amended 2018]

1.12.3 When informing people with breast cancer about the risk of developing lymphoedema, advise them that:

• they do not need to restrict their physical activity
• there is no consistent evidence of increased risk of lymphoedema associated with air travel, travel to hot countries, manicures, hot-tub use or sports injuries
• there is no consistent evidence of increased risk of lymphoedema associated with medical procedures (for example, blood tests, injections, intravenous medicines and blood pressure measurement) on the treated side, and the decision to perform medical procedures using the arm on the treated side should depend on clinical need and the possibility of alternatives. [2018]

1.12.4 Ensure that people with breast cancer who develop lymphoedema have rapid access to a specialist lymphoedema service. [2009]