Treatment of Lymphedema

Abstract

Almost all patients with lymphedema in Japan, are treated as outpatients. The treatment should be carried out under corporation of both special hospitals for cancer-treatment and lymphedema-treatment. The treatment of lymphedema consists of basic guidelines of everyday life, manual lymph drainage (self manual massage) and elastic stockings/sleeves. However, the treatment should not be performed uniformly in all patients, and be carried out based on scientific evidence, depending on the individual pathophysiology and life environment.