Source: Elsevier Global Medical News   SAN FRANCISCO (EGMN) - Lymphedema is highly common and a source of considerable morbidity among patients who undergo treatment for head and neck cancer, finds a cross-sectional study among 103 survivors. Fully three-fourths had developed some degree of lymphedema, according to results presented at the annual Oncology Congress presented by Reed Medical Education. The more severe it was, the more likely patients were to have symptoms, functional impairments, and poorer quality of life. Disease and treatment-related factors such as high radiation dose and combined surgery and radiation therapy were risk factors for the development of lymphedema. "This is the first study that we are aware of in the United States of this depth to systematically examine lymphedema" in this population, noted lead investigator Jie Deng, Ph.D., R.N., O.C.N., a postdoctoral fellow at the Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tenn. "Health care professionals should be aware that lymphedema is a frequent late effect in the head and neck cancer population," she advised. "We need to educate patients about the risk of lymphedema prior to treatment, during treatment, and posttreatment, and we need to conduct external and internal examinations to evaluate related signs and symptoms at each clinic visit." Patients found to have any signs or symptoms should be referred for lymphedema assessment. Furthermore, "it's very important we have very detailed documentation so we can follow up on patients' treatment effect and also identify potential issues in this population," Dr. Deng stressed. "An interdisciplinary approach is needed to [...]