New study tests simple strategy to stop breast cancer arm swelling for good
NCT ID NCT04522648
First seen Jun 27, 2026 · Last updated Jun 27, 2026
Summary
This study tests whether closely monitoring arm swelling after breast cancer surgery and treating it early with a compression sleeve can prevent long-term lymphedema. 250 women who had many lymph nodes removed will be randomly assigned to either the monitoring program or usual care. The goal is to see if early treatment reduces the number of women who develop chronic arm swelling.
What this could mean
Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only, not medical advice or a prediction.
- Active substance
- prospective surveillance program with compression garment
- What this could lead to
- If successful, this approach could reduce the number of women who develop long-term arm swelling after breast cancer surgery.
- What could go wrong
- This is a relatively small trial in one country, and the benefit may not apply to all patients. The intervention only manages symptoms, not the underlying cause.
This is an AI summary of the original study and may miss details. Read our disclaimer.
Study facts
What this study's own registry entry says, in plain language.
- Phase
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Not a phased trial
Phase numbers describe drug development. The registry uses this when they do not apply, as it does for trials of devices, procedures or behaviour changes, and for observational studies.
- Participants
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About 250 people
The number the study aims to enrol. It can still change while the study runs.
- Started
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Jan 2021
- Expected to finish
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Dec 2026
An estimate. End dates often move.
- Lead sponsor
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Other sponsor
The registry's catch-all category, for sponsors it does not file as a company, a government agency, or a research network.
Who can take part
This study's own entry requirements. Only the study team can say for certain whether you qualify.
- Ages
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18 years and older
- Sex
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Anyone
- Healthy volunteers
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Not accepted
This study is not open to healthy volunteers. The entry requirements below say who it is open to.
Show the full entry requirements Hide the full entry requirements
Copied word for word from the study's registry entry, so the wording is the study team's rather than ours.
Inclusion Criteria: * female; * ≥18 years; * surgery for breast cancer (unilateral and bilateral) including ALDN with \>6 lymph nodes removed; * can effectively communicate verbally in Danish; Exclusion Criteria: * surgery for breast cancer with SLNB or \< 6 nodes removed; * pre-existing lymphedema (primary or secondary); * previous treatment for breast cancer; * pace maker; * conditions known to cause swelling (pregnancy, congestive heart failure, chronic/acute renal disease, cor pulmonale, nephrotic syndrome, nephrosis, liver failure or cirrhosis, pulmonary edema, and thrombophlebitis or deep vein thrombosis in the arms).
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Conditions
The condition(s) this trial relates to.
As listed by the trial registrant
The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.
Contacts and locations
Locations
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Copenhagen University Hospital Rigshospitalet
Copenhagen, 2100, Denmark
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Herlev Hospital
Herlev, Denmark
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Odense University Hospital
Odense, Denmark
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