New surgery aims to stop debilitating arm swelling in breast cancer patients

This study tests whether adding a lymphatic bypass (LVB) during standard lymph node removal can prevent lymphedema—a painful arm swelling that affects up to 40% of breast cancer survivors. About 400 patients with node-positive breast cancer will be randomly assigned to receive either standard surgery alone or surgery plus LVB. Researchers will track arm measurements and patient symptoms for several years to see if the extra step reduces swelling risk.