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The published guidelines for Northern Ireland titled "Guidelines for theDiagnosis, Assessment and Management of Lymphoedema" are the result of anexpert panel including patients and healthcare professionals that reviewed theevidence for diagnosing, assessing and treating lymphedema.
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The guidelines support the need for a shift in treatment focus from areactive approach to one focused on the early assessment and earlyintervention of the condition. Bioimpedance technology featuring highsensitivity and specificity support this approach.
This surveillance method of diagnosis and treatment reflectsrecommendations recently published online in the journal Cancer, the officialjournal of the American Cancer Society.
To view the published guidelines online, please visithttp://www.crestni.org.uk/crest_guidelines_on_the_diagnosis__assessment_and_management_of_lymphoedema.pdf. (Due to the length of the link, please copy andpaste into your browser.)
About Lymphedema
Lymphedema is a condition that can cause significant swelling of the upperand lower extremities due to the build-up of excess lymph fluid. This canoccur when the lymphatic system, which is responsible for draining excessfluid from the body and is a key component of the immune system, is damaged oraltered. In breast cancer patients, this can occur after surgery, such asremoval or biopsy of the lymph nodes, and/or radiation therapy. It isestimated that 6 percent to 40 percent of patients with breast cancer developlymphedema, and that it often occurs within the first two years after surgery.For some cancer survivors and others at risk, a low level lymphedema can occur10 years to 15 years following the initial primary treatment and develop intoa condition that has a serious impact on overall health and quality of life.For more information about lymphedema, visithttp://www.nci.nih.gov/cancerinfo/pdq/supportivecare/lymphedema/patient/.
About ImpediMed
ImpediMed is the world leader in the development and distribution ofmedical devices employing Bioimpedence Spectroscopy (BIS) technologies for usein non-invasive screening and monitoring of human disorders and diseases.ImpediMed's primary product range consists of a number of medical devices thatenable surgeons, oncologists and radiation oncologists to detect early onsetsecondary lymphedema in breast cancer survivors, before the onset of symptomsthat are detectable using the most commonly used clinical technique, andbefore the condition becomes a matter of lifelong management and impairs thequality of life of the cancer survivor. ImpediMed has the only medical BISdevice with FDA clearance in the United States for the clinical assessment byhealth care providers of secondary lymphedema of the arm. For moreinformation, visit www.impedimed.com.Contacts: Wendy Lau or David Schull Russo Partners LLC (212) 845-4272 [email protected] [email protected]
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