The Palliative Care Network of Wisconsin (PCNOW) provides peer-reviewed, evidence-based summaries of key palliative care topics (“Fast Facts”). Lymphedema in its advanced stages cannot be cured and requires active management such as physical therapy to prevent worsening morbidity. Refractory symptoms are common in illnesses like advanced cancer and can affect quality of life, even contributing to feelings of hopelessness, disgust, and social isolation. This Fast Fact assimilates the published evidence to offer clinical pearls on identifying and managing lymphedema in patients with serious illness.
Links: Fast Facts #448
