Lymphatic System and Diseases Peer reviewed

Optimizing Recovery: Multimodal Physiotherapy for Secondary Lymphedema Post-Lumpectomy in a Geriatric Breast Cancer Patient: A Case Report

Anchal Thakur, Akanksha Sharma, Dikshita Kabba, Vaishali Rai and 1 more

Journal of Spine Research & Reports | Jun 15, 2026

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A 70-year-old woman with secondary lymphedema involving the left upper limb and bilateral lower limbs following a left breast lumpectomy and recurrent breast cancer is described, who presented with fatigue, sleep disturbances, restricted shoulder mobility, weakness, and difficulty with daily activities.

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Breast Cancer-Related Lymphedema (BCRL) is a chronic and debilitating complication following breast cancer treatment, with older adults being particularly vulnerable due to age-related physiological changes. Early physiotherapy plays a pivotal role in reducing lymphedema progression and improving function. This case report describes a 70-year-old woman with secondary lymphedema involving the left upper limb and bilateral lower limbs following a left breast lumpectomy (2020) and recurrent breast cancer (2025). She presented with fatigue, sleep disturbances, restricted shoulder mobility, weakness, and difficulty with daily activities. Initial evaluation indicated Stage 3 lymphedema with impaired functional scores (QuickDASH: 59/100; BFI: 6.88). An eight-week multimodal physiotherapy program, including manual lymphatic drainage, compression bandaging, Kinesio taping, therapeutic exercise, posture correction, breathing training, neurodynamics, yoga-based therapy, and self-management education, resulted in significant improvements. Post-intervention, she demonstrated reduced edema, improved mobility and strength, decreased fatigue, and enhanced independence. This case underscores the value of structured physiotherapy in managing BCRL in geriatric patients.

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Researchers on this paper

Anchal Thakur

first | Maharishi Markandeshwar University, Mullana | ORCID 0009-0008-7593-0671

Akanksha Sharma

middle | Maharishi Markandeshwar University, Mullana

Dikshita Kabba

middle | Maharishi Markandeshwar University, Mullana

Vaishali Rai

middle | Maharishi Markandeshwar University, Mullana

Paras Saini

last | Maharishi Markandeshwar University, Mullana

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Citation

BibTeX

@article{Thakur2026Optimizing,
  title = {Optimizing Recovery: Multimodal Physiotherapy for Secondary Lymphedema Post-Lumpectomy in a Geriatric Breast Cancer Patient: A Case Report},
  author = {Anchal Thakur and Akanksha Sharma and Dikshita Kabba and Vaishali Rai and Paras Saini},
  journal = {Journal of Spine Research & Reports},
  year = {2026},
  doi = {10.47363/jsrr/2026(5)125},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.47363/jsrr/2026(5)125}
}

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