Carilion Clinic, Christiansburg, VA
Tara Newberry, Betty Abrahamsen, Heather Dawn Brooks, Charles Bissell
Background: The rural and underserved have unique challenges and barriers to receiving evaluation and treatment for BCRL. Prospective identification and PREHAB for those at high risk including mastectomy over age 60, axillary node dissection, and radiation reduces the risk of BCRL and post-operative treatment encounters. In a rural Virginia breast program in 2021, 71% (40/56) of breast cancer (BC) patients were identified as high-risk for BCRL. Only fifteen percent (6/40) of high-risk patients received PREHAB with fifty-two percent (29/56) of total BC patients required post-operative encounters for treatment of BCRL. A quality improvement project to improve these numbers was implemented. Methods: We sought to increase the number of PREHAB encounters for patients at high-risk for developing BCRL and to decrease the total number of BC patients requiring post-operative BCRL treatment encounters. A Certified Lymphedema Therapist (CLT) prospectively identified patients at high-risk for development of BRCL during multidisciplinary breast cancer conference (MBCC). High-risk patients were offered PREHAB appointments, and the rates of PREHAB and post-operative intervention encounters were recorded. Results: In 2022, 76% (51/67) of BC patients were identified as high-risk for developing BCRL. Thirty-seven percent (19/51) received PREHAB, a 22% increase from 2021. The average number of visits was 7.7 visits for patients who received PREHAB and 19.2 visits for patients who did not. Forty-two percent (28/67) of total BC patients required post-operative encounters for treatment of BCRL, a 10% decrease from 2021. Barriers/Challenges: Both providers and patients showed limited engagement in the PREHAB model at the start of the program. Patient barriers to treatment included transportation and time limitations. Conclusions: A dedicated focus including high-risk screening, PREHAB, and a CLT at MBCC, can improve outcomes for BCRL in a rural and underserved population. Future investigation will include measuring BCRL rates over time.
Disclaimer
This material on this page is ©2024 American Society of Clinical Oncology, all rights reserved. Licensing available upon request. For more information, please contact licensing@asco.org
Abstract Disclosures
2022 ASCO Quality Care Symposium
First Author: Sasmith Menakuru
2023 ASCO Annual Meeting
First Author: Mariam Abuladze
2023 ASCO Annual Meeting
First Author: Jian Yue
2024 ASCO Annual Meeting
First Author: Chunfang Hao