Introduction

Lymphedema is a chronic and progressive condition that is characterized by the accumulation of protein-rich lymph fluid in the interstitial spaces [1,2,3]. Lymphedema after breast cancer treatment is a result of damage to the axillary lymph drainage routes caused by surgery or radiation treatment [4] and can develop at any age and at any time [5]. Lymphedema can lead to chronic inflammation, fibrosis, and repeated infection [1,2,3]. Currently there are no medical or surgical cures for lymphedema [6]. Breast cancer survivors with lymphedema may suffer from multiple lymphedema symptoms, including swelling, heaviness, firmness, tenderness, pain, numbness, aching, and stiffness [7,8,9,10]. Consequences of these symptoms include physical deficits involving limb weakness and diminished range of motion limiting an individual’s ability to perform activities of daily living and work duties [8, 11, 12], psychological morbidity [1, 2, 8, 11], decreased quality of life (QOL) [1, 13, 14], and for the remainder of their lifetime increases the risk of infection in the involved extremity [1, 10,11,12, 15].

Complete decongestive therapy (CDT) has been the standard treatment for lymphedema [16,17,18]. CDT is a combination of therapies, including manual lymphatic drainage (MLD), multilayer bandaging (MLB), compression, hygiene and skin care, and modified exercise [1, 2, 15, 16, 18]. Daily and life-long self-management of lymphedema is imperative to prevent worsening of the condition and repeated infections and to ensure patients’ QOL [17,18,19]. Studies have shown that components of CDT are effective in achieving initial reductions in swelling [20, 21], decreasing symptoms [22], and improving QOL [16, 22]. Due to the chronic nature of the condition, maintaining the benefits gained during a course of CDT can be challenging for individuals over time [2].

Low-level laser therapy (LLLT) is a conservative therapy utilizing nonionizing light sources that has been used in the treatment of lymphedema for breast cancer patients [4]. Studies have shown benefits using LLLT in this population [23,24,25,26,27], with proposed mechanisms of action supporting use of this device on human tissues. The basic mechanism for the use of low-level light for therapeutic benefit includes light absorption, targeting and activating cytochrome c oxidase in the mitochondrial membrane, leading to greater consumption of cellular oxygen and ultimately increased metabolic energy production [28], which is used for cellular repair. Research on the use of this laser at low-intensity wavelengths suggest effects at the cellular level [29] with increased lymphangiogenesis [30] and stimulation of lymphatic motoricity [31, 32] facilitating removal of excess protein-rich fluid, and stimulation of macrophage cells and the immune system [30, 33] which decrease the risk of infection. Studies have reported LLLT to be effective in softening fibrous tissue [4, 32] and surgical scars [34], reducing pain [4, 34], reducing arm volume [34,35,36], and improving QOL in the breast cancer population [33]. Long-term benefits have been documented in the literature using LLLT in this population in limited studies [32, 33, 35, 36], with a 12-month follow-up in one study [35], and a 2.5 year follow-up in one study [32]. In November 2006, the Food and Drug Administration approved the use of the RianCorp LTU-904 low-level laser (LLL) for treatment of post-mastectomy lymphedema [37]. Published studies on the effectiveness of LLLT are currently limited due to lack of research design involving double-blind and placebo-control randomization. In addition, there are limited published studies on the effectiveness of LLLT as a complementary treatment to the standard care of CDT for breast cancer survivors. Thus, the purpose of the study was to evaluate whether the use of LLLT as a complementary treatment to CDT would result in additional improvement and long-term benefits to individuals with lymphedema. The primary outcomes were lymphedema symptoms, limb volume, and QOL. We hypothesized that more patients in the active laser group would have fewer symptoms and less symptom distress, better limb volume, and greater treatment adherence than patients in the inactive laser group.

Materials and methods

This study was approved by the Institutional Review Board (IRB) of a larger metropolitan health system and was registered as clinical trial #10-00923. Physicians and nurse practitioners referred potential participants from March 2011, to June 2016. To be enrolled in the trial, potential participants who were willing to participate in the trial had to (1) meet the inclusion and exclusion criteria (Table 1) and (2) obtain written approval from their referring physician, who agreed to allow the patient to participate in the trial.

Table 1 Study selection criteria
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Study design

A double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled design was used for this pilot study to explore the effectiveness of LLLT on lymphedema as a complementary intervention to CDT when compared with CDT treatment alone. The primary outcomes were lymphedema symptoms, limb volume, and QOL. We hypothesized that patients in the active laser group would have significantly fewer symptoms, better limb volume, and improved QOL in comparison with those in the inactive laser group.

Participants

Oncologists affiliated with the medical center were informed about the trial. Women who came to the clinic for a lymphedema evaluation were offered a study flyer for participation into the trial. Fifty-four women who met the inclusion criteria were identified. Twenty-two women agreed to participate in the study. Informed consent was obtained from all participants, and subjects were randomized into either an active laser group or an inactive laser group. One subject consented to the study and was randomized, then changed her mind before data collection was performed, so a total of twenty-one women participated in the study (Fig. 1).

FIG. 1
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Study flow chart

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Randomization and blindness

After participants signed the informed consent, they were randomized and assigned into either an active laser intervention group (laser group) or an inactive laser placebo-control group (placebo group) using a non-stratified permuted-block design. Varying block sizes were used to minimize the possibility of predicting the allocation sequence. The study’s statistician, who was not involved in treatment intervention or data collection, performed the randomization. Participants were blinded to the laser allocation. Lymphedema therapists and research assessors who collected outcomes data were also blinded to the randomization of group allocation, as well as to the allocation of the active and inactive laser devices. All clinicians who administrated the laser therapy were blinded to the allocation of the lasers. This was made possible because both the active and inactive laser device presented the same red light during the treatment.

Treatment description

Since CDT has been the standard treatment for breast cancer-related lymphedema (BCRL) [6], all study participants received CDT in this trial. The detailed description of CDT can be found in Table 2. The use of LLL (the LTU-904 laser by RianCorp) was added to CDT. The study utilized a total of 4 lasers, 2 active and 2 inactive laser devices, which were pre-calibrated to provide either active or placebo laser treatment. This information was blinded to participants, lymphedema therapists, and researchers who evaluated outcome measures. Lymphedema therapists were trained in the application of the LLL, and complementary LLLT was administered twice a week at the beginning of each lymphedema treatment session before CDT.

Table 2 Complete decongestive therapy components
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LLLT was performed using a standardized fabric treatment grid made from cut fabric sheets. The grid was pre-fashioned with 40 punctured holes as marked treatment sites, and the holes were divided into four color-coded groups: red, blue, green, and black. The holes alternated colors to allow for spacing of ≥ 2 cm between consecutive same-colored holes. Participants were given their own fabric treatment grid to be used for the duration of the study. The fabric grid was draped over the underarm and medial to lateral chest wall of the affected upper quadrant using pre-determined anatomical landmarks to ensure consistency with each treatment. The laser treatment was applied with the participant positioned in supine with the affected arm abducted to 90° (Fig. 2). The laser was applied over the standardized grid using a corresponding set of color-coded holes alternating each session on a 4-week cycle (Fig. 3). LLLT was applied on the high setting for 1 min at each of 10 sites in the axilla and a portion of the chest wall on the affected side, for a total of 8–16 sessions depending on the time frame needed to achieve clinical goals. The dose per application site was 1.5 J per centimeter squared (J/cm2), for a total dose of 15 J/cm2 delivered at each treatment session.

Fig. 2
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Laser treatment applied with the patient in supine, affected arm abducted to 90°

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Fig. 3
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Standardized fabric treatment grid and treatment session assignment

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Procedures

Members of the research team who were blind to the randomization of the LLL device collected data. Lymphedema therapists were trained in the application of LLLT. Both groups received individualized CDT as determined by their treating therapist. Treatment sessions using LLLT as an adjunct to CDT ranged between 8 and 16 sessions, with the final number of visits for each subject determined by the time needed to achieve maximal circumferential reduction as assessed by girth measurements, and palpation of soft tissue texture/density improvement. Demographic and medical information was obtained at the first visit after evaluation. Data collection of selected outcome measures was performed at the first visit after evaluation, after 8 treatment sessions, after the final treatment session, and at long-term follow-up at 3, 6, and 12 months (Table 3). We followed the research procedures used in our prior studies [38, 39], including use of the perometer as recommended by the manufacturers [38,39,40]. Protection of human subjects was ensured by following the guidelines set forth by the IRB. Each participant signed the written consent to the study.

Table 3 Schedule for data collection and treatment intervention
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Clinical and outcome measures

Demographic and medical information

A structured interview tool was used to gather demographic and medical information [38,39,40]. Demographic and medical data collected included age, ethnicity, occupation, education, diagnosis, treatment, nodal status, numbers of lymph nodes removed, co-morbidities, and family and medical history (such as breast cancer history, breast cancer gene status, and family history of lymphedema). Medical information was verified by reviewing participants’ medical records as needed.

Height and BMI

Height was measured without shoes on to the nearest 0.1 cm with a portable stadiometer. An electrical bioimpedance device (InBody 520, Biospace Co., Ltd.) was employed to measure the weight, and the device automatically calculated BMI using the formula: weight (kg)/height (m2) [39].

Lymphedema symptoms and symptom distress

The lymphedema and breast cancer symptom experience index (BCLE-SEI) is a valid, reliable, 5-point Likert-type self-report instrument to assess symptoms related to lymphedema or fluid accumulation [40,41,42]. This instrument consists of two parts, one evaluating the occurrence of lymphedema symptoms and another evaluating QOL in terms of symptom distress. The lymphedema symptom assessment (part 1) assesses impaired limb mobility in the shoulder, arm, elbow, wrist, and fingers. It also assesses arm swelling, breast swelling, chest wall swelling, heaviness, firmness, tightness, stiffness, numbness, tenderness, pain/aching/soreness, redness, blistering, burning, stabbing, tingling (pain and needles), hotness, seroma, and limb fatigue/weakness. Symptom distress (part 2) evaluates the adverse impact and suffering evoked by one’s experience of lymphedema symptoms [40,41,42]. Symptom distress includes dimensions of daily living, social function, sleep disturbance, sexuality, emotional/ psychological distress, and days absent from work.

Infrared perometer measurement of limb volume

Perometry was performed on each arm as it was held horizontally. The Perometer 350S maps a 3-dimensional graph of the affected and non-affected extremities using numerous rectilinear light beams and interfaces with a computer for data analysis and storage. A 3-dimensional limb image was generated and LV was calculated. This optoelectronic method has a standard deviation of 8.9 ml (arm), less than 0.5% of LV with repeated measuring. Procedures for perometry were based on protocol used in other research [21].

Statistical analysis

Demographic and treatment variables

Adherence to the Research Program we defined participants’ adherence to the research program as patients having completed each follow-up visit without loss to follow-up. SPSS version 22 (IBM, Armonk, NY, USA) was used for statistical analysis. Descriptive statistics were calculated for baseline demographic (age, weight, BMI, percentage of body fat, marital status, employment, retirement status, disability) and clinical characteristics (primary cancer stage, secondary cancer stage, mastectomy, lumpectomy, chemotherapy, radiation, auxiliary lymph node treatment, lymph nodes removed, family history of lymphedema) overall and within each treatment arm. All point estimates were generated with 95% confidence intervals. Mean and standard deviations were used to summarize continuous variables; frequencies and percentages were used to summarize categorical variables.

Lymphedema symptoms, limb volume, and QOL

Because even a 5% limb volume increase enables detectable differences in QOL, lymphedema was defined as a perometer measurement of ≥ 5% limb volume increase in the ipsilateral arm in comparison with the changes in the contralateral arm [43]. As the 24 lymphedema symptoms denote clusters of symptoms, i.e., groups of more than two symptoms that occur together, to indicate different biological mechanism [43], we categorized the 24 symptoms into three identifying symptom clusters of impaired limb mobility (limb mobility in the shoulder, arm, elbow, wrist, and fingers, tightness and stiffness), fluid accumulation symptoms (arm swelling, breast swelling, chest wall swelling, seroma, heaviness, and firmness), and pain/discomfort symptoms (pain/aching/soreness, numbness, tenderness, redness, blistering, burning, stabbing, tingling, hotness, limb fatigue/weakness).

Distributions of the outcome variables, including (a) limb volume by perometer ≥ 5%, (b) count of lymphedema symptoms (0 vs 1–24 symptoms), (c) symptom clusters (reporting 2 or more symptoms related to impaired limb mobility, fluid accumulation, and pain/discomfort), and (d) symptom distress, were summarized at each time point (visit 1 to visit 6) and associations with laser treatment groups (active versus inactive) were estimated. Chi-square analyses were performed to estimate for the associations between categorical demographic and clinical predictors and laser treatment groups. Fisher’s exact tests were conducted when data did not meet the assumptions of Pearson’s chi-square (cells with expected counts < 5). Independent group t tests were used to compare groups on continuous variables.

Results

Participant characteristics

At baseline, the demographic and clinical predictors of the two treatment groups were comparable, as no significant differences existed between both groups in terms of BMI, age, treatment variables, axillary lymph node procedures, and numbers of lymph nodes removed (Table 4). As a result, the randomization scheme created two relatively similar patient profiles. The mean age of both groups was between 60 and 64 years of age. Seventy-three percent of the women in the laser group were married, while only 30% of the women in the placebo group were married. Employment status was similar in both groups, with 64% employed in the laser group and 70% in the placebo group. Approximately 60% of the women in both groups had mastectomy, 90% underwent chemotherapy, and over 90% had radiation and axillary lymph node dissection. The mean number of lymph nodes removed for women in the placebo group was 16 total nodes with 5 of them positive, and for women in the laser group was 17 total nodes with 8 of them positive. Less than 10% of all participants in the study reported a family history of lymphedema.

Table 4 Participants’ demographic and treatment characteristics at baseline
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Outcome variables: (Table 5)

Lymphedema symptoms

In comparison with the placebo group (83.3%), significantly fewer participants in the laser group (55.6%) reported more than one lymphedema symptom (p = 0.012) at 12-months post-intervention. Significantly more patients in the laser group (44.4%) reported less than two of the seven symptoms of impaired limb mobility (limb mobility in shoulder, arm, elbow, wrist and fingers, tightness and stiffness) in comparison with the placebo group (33.3%) at 12-month post-intervention (p = 0.017). There were no significant changes in symptoms of fluid accumulation (arm swelling, breast swelling, chest wall swelling, seroma, heaviness, and firmness) and pain/discomfort symptoms (pain/aching/soreness, numbness, tenderness, redness, blistering, burning, stabbing, tingling, and pain/discomfort).

Table 5 Outcome variables
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Symptom distress

The laser group had statistically significant improvements in symptom distress of sadness (p = 0.005) from 73 to 11% and self-perception (p = 0.03) from 36 to 0% over time from visit 1 to visit 6. The placebo group did not show a correspondingly significant decrease in the reporting of any total number of symptoms, impaired limb mobility, symptom distress, or improvements in social functioning. There were no significant improvements in the dimensions of daily living, sleep disturbance, sexuality, and days absent from work.

Limb volume

The laser group had a significant decrease in the percentage of participants from 100 to 63% (p = 0.118) who had > 5% limb volume prior to intervention to < 5% limb volume after intervention, while the placebo group did not achieve a significant decrease (100 to 78%; p = 0.614). Yet, the changes were not statistically significant in either the laser or placebo groups.

Adherence rates

The placebo group had a significant decrease in adherence rates from 100 to 60% (p = 0.037), while the laser group maintained an adherence rate above 80% throughout the entire study (p = 0.932).

Discussion

Results from this trial showed that the addition of LLLT to CDT did help patients significantly improve their lymphedema symptom experience by decreasing the number of lymphedema symptoms and relieving impaired limb mobility symptoms. LLLT also helped to improve emotional distress from lymphedema symptoms, including sadness and self-perception. By reducing the number of lymphedema symptoms, relieving symptoms of impaired limb mobility, and improving emotional distress, LLLT played an important role in treating lymphedema, focusing on symptom management in breast cancer patients with lymphedema. Inconsistent with other studies [25, 36, 44], findings of our trial did not show statistically significant changes in limb volume in either group, although the laser group does show a decrease in limb volume of > 5% from 100 to 63%. The insignificance of limb volume in this study may be a result of the small power with a sample size n = 21.

Future research should have a larger sample size focusing on the effect of laser treatment on limb volumes. Research suggests, however, that arm volume reduction alone may not provide adequate relief of symptoms and may contribute to poorer QOL among breast cancer patients [13, 14]. Ridner found that cumulative symptom experience was found to be influenced more by the perception of arm volume than by the objective arm volume. Thus, lymphedema symptoms and symptom distress may be more sensitive indicators for evaluating the effects of lymphedema treatment [13].

Adherence to CDT during the initial intensive phase of treatment and the maintenance phase of therapy has been identified as an obstacle for long-term self-management of this condition to achieve optimal outcomes [45]. Our trial found that significantly more patients in the placebo group failed to follow up at the research visits while over 80% of the patients in the laser group maintained adherence to research follow-up visits. With a greater understanding of the impact of symptom burden reduction resulting from treatment intervention, individuals who make significant gains in symptom reduction and decreased pain from treatment intervention may be more motivated to adhere to their treatment protocol and to long-term follow-up visits in the future.

The ultimate goal of lymphedema treatment is to relieve suffering. Based on results from this study, LLLT should be considered a complementary therapy to CDT to relieve symptoms and symptom distress, in turn helping patients to achieve optimal outcomes of CDT by motivating patient adherence.

Strengths and limitations of the trial

The strengths of the study included a rigorous study design with a long-term follow-up of 12 months, while a majority of published studies utilized a shorter follow-up period of approximately 3–6 months. Outcome measures in this study included a combination of subjective and objective measurements with the ability to not only capture changes in symptoms and symptom distress but also limb volume by infrared perometer, a more rigorous measure of limb volume than tape measures used by a majority of the studies [25, 31, 32, 34,35,36, 44]. Another strength in this study was the use of a standardized fabric grid during treatment sessions to insure consistency in the location of treatment points. The grid had four different color-coded groups of holes which enabled the use of alternating laser points of application from session to session to ensure quality and safety of treatment.

There are several limitations of this study. Because the goal of the study was to examine the use of the LLL as a complementary treatment to CDT, the study protocol required continuous adherence to CDT during the treatment portion of the study and required long-term follow-up appointments. Both of these requirements presented challenges in the recruitment of subjects, as many potential participants for the study were unwilling to participate for one or both reasons. There were several enrolled subjects who were unable to complete the study. Only one subject in the laser group dropped out of the study as she complained about discomfort in the chest wall. Other participants were lost to follow-up for reasons unrelated to the study (Fig. 1). As a result of these challenges, the sample size of the study was small, so findings from this study should be considered with caution. Future research should investigate the effectiveness of LLLT as sole treatment modality for lymphedema in comparison to LLLT as the complementary therapy to CDT.

Conclusion

Results from this pilot study show significant benefit of LLLT in combination with CDT for symptom burden reduction in individuals with BCRL, but did not show additional benefit for limb volume reduction. In the future, best practice for BCRL assessment would include a combination of limb volume measurement and comprehensive symptom assessment, as this pathology has been shown to have an impact in both areas. For future studies, a larger sample size with a rigorous study design focusing on the effectiveness of LLLT as the sole treatment for the BCRL population is indicated to make more definitive conclusions.