Lymphoedema and cancer
Go to Cancer Research UK’s clinical trials database if you are looking for a trial for lymphoedema in the UK. You need to talk to your specialist if there are any trials that you think you might be able to take part in.
Some of the trials on this page have now stopped recruiting people. It takes time before the results are available. This is because the trial team follow the people taking part for a period of time and collect and analyse the results. We have included this ongoing research to give examples of the type of research being carried out into lymphoedema.
All treatments must be fully researched before they can be used for everyone. This is so we can be sure that they:
work
work better than the treatments already available
are safe
To make sure the research is accurate, each trial has certain entry conditions for who can take part. These are different for each trial.
Hospitals do not take part in every clinical trial. Some trials are only done in a small number of hospitals, or in one area of the country. You may need to travel quite far if you take part in these trials.
We have also included examples of research happening in other countries.
There is lots of research into finding different ways to help lower the risk of developing lymphoedema. The following are examples of what researchers are looking at.
The for breast cancer is to shrink the cancer before surgery. After surgery you have further treatment to the in the armpit on the side the cancer was. This is either removal of all armpit lymph nodes or to the armpit.
We know that surgery or radiotherapy to the armpit increases the risk of lymphoedema. Researchers want to find out if it is safe to stop treatment to the armpit. They also want to find out if less treatment helps reduce the risk of getting lymphoedema.
Other researchers around the world are trying to prevent lymphoedema by looking:
at if it is possible to start lymphatic drainage early before there are any symptoms in the lower leg
for early signs of changes to the before symptoms develop
at comparing surgery with physiotherapy. The surgery reroutes to nearby veins (lymphovenous bypass surgery). This study is for people with breast cancer who have had an
Researchers are looking at why lymphoedema happens after breast cancer surgery and radiotherapy. They hope by understanding more about why changes and blockages develop in the lymphatic system, they can then identify these people early.
They hope that current monitoring tests can help predict these changes. This means that people at risk can have early to help prevent lymphoedema from developing.
Researchers are looking at different ways to manage lymphoedema and improve current treatments.
Studies are looking at how well intermittent pneumatic compression pumps work for lymphoedema in the leg. Pneumatic compression pumps use compressed air to apply pressure to the affected limb.
The researchers want to find out:
how much swelling is reduced after using these pumps for a period of time
if there are any skin changes after using the pumps
how easy the pumps are to use
if some pumps work better than others
This study is comparing standard treatment of exercise and bandaging with surgery.
Researchers are looking at surgery to change the route of the lymph vessels. The surgeon attaches the lymph vessels to nearby tiny blood vessels (veins). The lymph fluid can then drain into the veins reducing the amount of fluid in the arm. This is lymphaticovenous surgery (LVA). Doctors want to find out:
how well LVA works
how safe it is
how LVA affects
Researchers are looking into partly repairing and rebuilding the lymphatic system where the lymphoedema is. This is called reconstructive lymphatic surgery. They do this by rerouting lymph vessels to get past damaged lymph vessels or nodes. They might also transfer a group of healthy lymph nodes from one area of the body to the other.
This research aims to look at how well this treatment works compared to people who don’t have this surgery.
Quality of life means looking at the whole of your life including your:
physical health
mental health
overall wellbeing
Lymphoedema can have a huge impact on a person’s quality of life. Doctors are continuously trying to find ways to help lower the risk of lymphoedema happening.
Researchers are creating a database to help understand the impact of lymphoedema on quality of life for people with breast cancer. This database will hold information about their lymphoedema such as:
measurements
symptoms
treatments
Researchers can then use this database to help with future research questions.
Other researchers are comparing people’s quality of life between those who had surgery for their lymphoedema and those who haven’t.
Last reviewed: 08 Jul 2026
Next review due: 08 Jul 2029
Lymphoedema can affect you emotionally, physically, and practically. There are ways that you can help yourself and you can also get support from other people.
Lymphoedema is swelling of a part of the body. It can be caused by some cancers and their treatment.
We have specific treatment information for each cancer type. Choose the cancer type you want to find out about the treatment from this A-Z list of treatments by cancer type.
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Search our clinical trials database for all cancer trials and studies recruiting in the UK.
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