BACKGROUND: Lymphedema is a common condition occurring in over 50% of breast and cervix cancer patients. The pneumatic pump as used in the past is still utilized for the treatment. A complex lymphatic therapy was developed by Dr. Michael Foeldi of Germany in the 1980s, and was widely practiced with good effects. This study was to observe the practical effectiveness in patients receiving such treatment. METHODS: Twenty two patients diagnosed with lymphedema and treated in department of Family Medicine of National Health Insurance Corporation Ilsan Hospital from August 1, 2000 to September 30, 2001. They were observed with respect to the frequency of demographic characteristics, and were compared to assess the improvement of clinical symptoms before and after complex lymphatic therapy by independent samples T-test and the degree of edema reduction before and after complex lymphatic therapy by paired samples T-test (P-value<0.05). RESULTS: Among the 22 subjects 1 was a male and 21 were females and their mean age was 49.9 9.3. Cervix and breast cancer patients comprised 86.4% among the total. Twenty one cancer patients developed lymphedema after the operation or radiotherapy. Most were in stage 2 or 3 of edema with 81.8%. Relative to the edema onset time, there were 7 (33.3%) of less than 1 year, 5 (23.8%) from 1 to 3 years and 9 (42.9%) over 3 years. They came to see a lymphedema specialist in 2.9 3.9 years after edema progressed. The degree of lymphedema with 968.4 545.3 ml before the treatment was improved to 337.3 326.8 ml after the treatment which showed a statistically remarkable 65.0 33.2% effectiveness. CONCLUSION: Complex lymphatic therapy for the patients of lymphedema presented with a 65% edema reduction in our study. Thus, the therapy for such patients is considered the most effective method up to present.
Breast ; Breast Neoplasms ; Cervix Uteri ; Edema ; Female ; Germany ; Humans ; Lymphedema* ; Male ; National Health Programs ; Radiotherapy ; Specialization ; Uterine Cervical Neoplasms