HEALTH PROFESSIONAL RESOURCES

Lymphedema is a progressive, chronic inflammatory condition that can affect any area of the body, most commonly the limbs. The lymphatic system can have congenital defects (primary lymphedema) or experience damage (secondary lymphedema), including surgery, radiation therapy, active cancer and trauma. When lymph fluid is no longer able to drain efficiently from the affected region, chronic swelling develops. This swelling can progress to skin changes, weeping fluid, wounds and recurrent infections. Moving a swollen and potentially painful limb can become challenging, and limit function in activities of daily living such as walking, bathing, dressing and cooking. Early identification and effective management are key to improving quality of life in people living with lymphedema. 

What Healthcare Professionals in Canada need to know about Lymphedema/Chronic Edema (Canadian Lymphedema Framework, 2 page summary)

> Lymphedema Clinical Guidelines & Position Papers
> Lymphedema Assessment & Management
> Self assessment: Limb Circumference Self-Measurement Guides
> Skin Care 
> Compression
> Exercise 
> Manual Lymphatic Drainage / Manual Techniques
> Lymphedema Nutrition
> Lymphedema Surgery
> Specialized Lymphedema Topics
> BCLA Award
> Lymphedema Training Programs
> Lymphedema Continuing Education

LYMPHEDEMA CLINICAL GUIDELINES & POSITION PAPERS

• Canadian Lymphedema Framework (CLF), who publish the Pathways Magazine

• International Lymphedema Framework (ILF), who have created Lymphedema Education Benchmark Statements 

• British Lymphology Society (BLS)

• National Lymphedema Network (NLN)

• 2023 American Cancer Society (ACS) Lymphedema Summit: Research papers 
  
  

LYMPHEDEMA ASSESSMENT & MANAGEMENT

• BC Cancer Symptom Management Guidelines

• Patient Education: 

• • BC Cancer: Lymphedema (Swelling) in the Arm or Leg (English, Punjabi, Traditional Chinese) 

  • BC Cancer: Lymphedema (Swelling) in the head/neck region

  • BC Cancer Library: Lymphedema Pathfinder (books, ebooks, support programs, etc.) 

• Lymphedema Clinical Definitions and Assessment Guide - 5S’s (BLS, 2025): 

• • “5 S” key clinical features:

  • • Skin: integrity and changes

    • Subcutaneous tissues: pitting, texture, adipose tissue deposition

    • Size: volume or severity of lymphoedema

    • Site: lymphoedema distribution

    • Shape: distortion e.g.proximal/distal ratio and visible asymmetry or shape changes

• Position Statement on Lymphedema Diagnosis and Treatment (NLN, 2025)

• International Consensus Best Practice for Management of Lymphedema (ILF, 2006)

• Complete Decongestive Therapy: an expert consensus document (Research paper, 2024)

• • Phase 1: Volume reduction 

  • Phase 2: Volume stabilisation/ maintenance

• Incidence of lymphedema in various cancers (Research paper, 2024) 

• Lymphedema Management in Primary Care (BLS, 2025)

• Lymphedema Assessment Form (Klose) 

• Lymphedema Risk Assessment Tool (Piller, 2006)

• Lower Limb Inflammatory Pathway Algorithm (BLS, 2024) 

• Current diagnostic and quantitative techniques in the field of lymphedema management: a critical review (Research paper, 2024)

• Patient Education:

• • Indocyanine Green (ICG) Lymphogram to Detect Lymphedema (Ohio State)
    
    

SELF ASSESSMENT: LIMB CIRCUMFERENCE SELF-MEASUREMENT GUIDES

• People at risk for lymphedema can measure their own arm or leg circumference over time to see if there is a greater than 2 cm difference in circumference between the two limbs. If there is any change in size or a change in sensation (heaviness, fullness) to the limb, it is recommended to see a Lymphedema Therapist. 

• Arm circumference self-measurement guide (handout, video; UBC Cancer Exercise Research Lab)

• Leg circumference self-measurement guide (handout), based on prostate cancer lymphedema research (2025)

SKIN CARE

• Lymph Facts: Skincare for people with Lymphedema (BLS, 2022) 

• Guidelines on Management of Cellulitis in Lymphedema (BLS, 2025)

• Managing Lymphorrhea in the Community (BLS, 2023)

• Managing Lymphedema in the presence of DVT (BLS, 2021)

• Patient Education: Skin Care for Patients with Lymphedema (Klose, 2020)
  
  

COMPRESSION

• STRIDE Professional Guides to Compression Garment Selection (ILWTI): Upper extremity (2025) and Lower extremity (2019) 

• Practical issues in applying compression garments and wraps for managing lymphedema (BLS, 2024)

• The effect of compression therapies and therapeutic modalities on lymphedema secondary to cancer: a rapid review and evidence map (Research paper, 2024) 

• Compression Therapy: A position document on compression bandaging (ILF, 2020)

• Working with Garment Fitters & Vendors (Lymphedema Education Solutions) 

• • Compression Garment Funding in BC

• Clinical Indications for Pneumatic Compression Devices (US DVA, 2026)

• • BC MedEquip carries compression devices

• Patient Education: How to Use and Care for Compression Sleeve (Ohio State)

EXERCISE

• Lymph Facts: Movement & Physical Activity (BLS, 2023)

• Breast cancer-related lymphoedema and resistance exercise: An evidence-based review of guidelines, consensus statements and systematic reviews (Research paper, 2022) 

• Decongestive progressive resistance exercise with an adjustable compression wrap for breast cancer-related lymphoedema (DREAM): protocol for a randomised controlled trial (Research protocol, University of AlbertaP
• Patient Education:
• • Lymphedema Exercises (Aurora Health): Upper Body and Lower Body  
  • BC Cancer: Exercise and Rehabilitation Resources
• Virtual Exercise Classes for Cancer: 
• • Inspire Health 
  • UBC Cancer Exercise Research Studies
  • Wellspring 
    
    

MANUAL LYMPHATIC DRAINAGE / MANUAL TECHNIQUES

• Manual Lymphatic Drainage Position Document (BLS, 2024)

• Effect of Manual Lymphatic Drainage on Breast Cancer-Related Postmastectomy Lymphedema: A Meta-analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials (Research paper, 2023)

• Efficacy of Manual Lymphatic Drainage: An Estimation of the Truth Culled From the Literature (Research commentary, 2025)

• Don't Throw Manual Lymphatic Drainage Out With the Volume (Research commentary, 2025)

• Patient Education: Self-Manual Lymphatic Drainage

• • Klose Training (handouts, videos)

  • University Health Network (handouts, videos)

  • Ohio State (handouts and video):

  • • Head and Neck (Anterior Pathway, Posterior Pathway) 

    • Breast 

    • Upper body 

    • Lower body

LYMPHEDEMA NUTRITION

• Dietary Supplements in Lymphedema (Research paper, 2022)

• Therapeutic Applications of Ketogenic Diets in Lipedema: A Narrative Review of Current Evidence (Research paper, 2025) 

• Books on Lymphedema Diet and Complementary Therapies (Jean La Mantia, RD) 

• Diet and Lymphedema webinar (Wellsping, Jean La Mantia, RD) 

• Patient Education: 

• • Lymphedema Nutrition handout (Sylvester) 

  • BC Cancer: Nutrition handouts (multiple language translations) 

  • About Herbs - Supplement directory (Memorial Sloan Kettering) 

• Virtual Nutrition Classes for Cancer:

• • • Inspire Health 

    • Wellspring 

    • LifestyleRx: 12 week lifestyle and diet program for chronic conditions, including lymphedema. Free for BC, AB and ON residents.

LYMPHEDEMA SURGERY

• Position Statement on Lymphedema Surgery (NLN, 2025)

• Advances in surgical management of chronic lymphedema: current strategies and future directions (Research paper, 2025) 

• Expert-consensus on lymphedema surgeries: candidacy, prehabilitation, and postoperative care (Research paper, 2024) 

• Post-operative care for patients following surgical treatment of lymphedema (Research paper, 2024) 

• Patient education:

• • Immediate Lymphatic Reconstruction Surgery (Memorial Sloan Kettering; English, Chinese, Russian, Spanish)

  • After your Lymphovenous Bypass Surgery to Manage Lymphedema (Memorial Sloan Kettering; English, Chinese, Russian, Spanish)

  • After your Lymph Node Transfer Surgery to Manage Lymphedema (Memorial Sloan Kettering; English, Chinese, Russian, Spanish) 

  • Liposuction to Manage Lymphedema (Ohio State)

SPECIALIZED LYMPHEDEMA TOPICS

• Current Lymphedema Clinical Trials

• Care of Children with Lymphedema (ILF, 2010)

• Measurement of lower limb circumference in children (Sick Kids)

• Managing Lymphedema in Advanced Cancer and End of Life (ILF, 2010)

• Developing a Lymphedema Service (ILF, 2007)
  
  

BCLA AWARD 

• BCLA is working to increase access to lymphedema therapists in underserved parts of BC.
  We provide bursaries of up to $2000 towards lymphedema training programs for clinicians working in rural and remote regions. 

To apply for an award, email completed application form to info@bclymph.org.

LYMPHEDEMA TRAINING PROGRAMS

• The Lymphology Association of North America (LANA) maintains a list of lymphedema therapist training programs

• • Complete Decongestive Therapy (CDT) courses are 135 hours long, combining in person and virtual learning. 

  • In order to take a CDT course, a healthcare professional must possess a current, unrestricted license as a Registered Nurse, Occupational Therapist, Certified Occupational Therapy Assistant, Physical Therapist, Physical Therapist Assistant, Medical Doctor, Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine, Doctor of Chiropractic, Massage Therapist, or Certified Athletic Trainer. 

• Common lymphedema therapist training programs in BC include:

• • Dr. Vodder International

  • Klose Training

After completing an approved lymphedema training program, lymphedema therapists can take a test through LANA to receive the designation CLT-LANA, indicating they are a Certified Lymphedema Therapist through the Lymphology Association of North America.

LYMPHEDEMA CONTINUING EDUCATION

• University of Alberta & Canadian Lymphedema Framework: Lymphedema & Chronic Edema Management Online Microcredential

• • Appropriate for clinicians new to lymphedema and trained lymphedema therapists

  • 12 hours, self paced over 6 weeks

• International Lymphedema & Wounds Training Institute (ILWTI)

• • Compression Fitter Specialist Course 

  • CLT-LANA Exam Prep Course

• Head and Neck Lymphedema Courses:

• • Norton School of Lymphatic Therapy

  • Head and Neck Rehab

• Lymphatic Education & Research Network (LERN)

• • Sign up for monthly newsletter 

  • Courses and conferences

• Cancer Rehabilitation Canada is a newsletter that features cancer rehabilitation & lymphedema resources, research, webinars, courses and conferences.