Lymphedema can be an unfortunate and sometimes crippling side effect for those who have undergone cancer treatments.

Lymphedema is chronic, progressive swelling resulting from trauma to the lymphatic system, a group of tissues and organs in our body that help us stave off infection and disease. The lymphatic system allows for healthy maintenance of body fluid levels.

Specifically, lymphedema impacts patients who have had lymph nodes removed or radiated or those who have had certain types of chemotherapy, as the absence of lymph nodes can cause unwanted fluid to build up in surrounding tissues.

“The greater the trauma to the lymphatic system, the greater the risk of developing lymphedema,” said Jodi Bringuel, a physical therapist and certified lymphedema therapist at UCHealth SportsMed Clinic in Steamboat Springs.

“Once the trauma is done, the risk of developing lymphedema never goes away. However, the chances of developing lymphedema decrease over time, which is why it is very important to support the lymphatic system throughout cancer treatments with help from a certified lymphedema therapist,” added Bringuel.

Signs and symptoms of lymphedema include heaviness or fullness in a specific area, tightness of skin and tissue, visible swelling, difficulty fitting into clothing or shoes, and/or changes to fit of jewelry or clothing.

Thanks to a $20,000 donation from the Bust of Steamboat, the team at UCHealth SportsMed Clinic hope to reach even more patients with the “SOZO” protocol.

The SOZO Digital Health Platform is part of an early intervention protocol for patients with breast and prostate cancer. It can be a game changer for patients developing lymphedema before the condition becomes chronic.

With the SOZO device, a patient’s fluid and tissue status can be quickly measured in a non-invasive, 30-second checkup.

It looks like a scale you would find at a physician’s office. The patient steps on the SOZO device and within 30 seconds, it quickly measures 256 frequencies and collects thousands of data samples from the bare surfaces of the hands and feet.

These results are individualized so your health care provider can track changes or fluctuations in tissue and fluid levels for a patient at risk for lymphedema, as well as personalize and track data over time.

“This is why the SOZO device is so important, because it detects small changes in swelling before people actually see or feel it themselves, which allows for rapid treatment and better chances of the lymphatic system fully recovering instead of suffering chronic damage,” she said.

Patients will get a baseline measurement before cancer treatment or surgery, then retest every three months for the first three years and then transition to an annual test.

In addition to data retrieval for lymphedema prevention, the SOZO device also offers body composition information such as skeletal muscle mass, fat mass and fluid analysis. This data can be useful for patients going through cancer treatments to make sure they are not losing too much muscle mass.

Certain cancers are at higher risk for lymphedema such as breast, melanoma, head and neck cancers, prostate and some gynecological cancers.

“If left untreated, lymphedema can increase the risk of infections like cellulitis and interfere with wound healing, which could result in costly treatments and hospitalizations,” said Bringuel. “Since it is a progressive disorder, if it is not treated, it will likely continue to progress, potentially leading to significant lifestyle modifications. Lymphedema is very treatable, but the earlier you catch it and start treatment, the easier it is to treat, and hopefully, avoid lifelong management.”

Treatment after a diagnosis

Once lymphedema is identified, there is a treatment phase and a maintenance phase. The treatment phase consists of regular physical or occupational therapy sessions that include manual lymph drainage, compression bandaging, exercise, education about lymphedema, skin care and risk reduction practices. Also, compression garments will be recommended for long-term management.

During the maintenance phase, patients are encouraged to exercise, practice diligent skin care, wear compression garments and schedule follow-up visits, Bringuel said.

More patients can be screened in the future

Currently, all patients with breast or prostate cancer are being screened for lymphedema with the SOZO device with a pre-op evaluation and post-op follow-up. Bringuel said that gradually, the device will be expanded for use with other cancers, especially with patients who have lymph nodes biopsied and radiated.

“We are excited about being able to expand the use of SOZO and want to educate people about lymphedema risk factors, its signs and symptoms, and how we can help these patients before it affects their lifestyle,” said Bringuel.

Mary Gay Broderick writes for UCHealth. She can be reached at marygaybroderick@comcast.net.