The goal of the KiTaLymph trial is to investigate whether the application of kinesio tape is effective in women with persistent (\>6 months) breast and/or truncal oedema after treatment for breast cancer. The main objectives are to assess whether kinesio taping: * reduces pain and symptoms, * decreases swelling, * improves quality of life (QoL). This study will compare a control group receiving standard care, decongestive lymphatic therapy (DLT), to an intervention group receiving DLT in combination with kinesio taping, in order to determine whether the addition of kinesio tape yields superior clinical outcomes. Participants will be randomly allocated to one of the two study arms. Both groups will participate in a 4-week intervention phase, consisting of two treatment sessions per week. This will be followed by a 6-month follow-up period to assess the durability of treatment effects and cost-related outcomes. A total of approximately 128 participants will be recruited. Outcome assessments will be conducted at baseline, immediately post-intervention (1 month), and at 3 and 6 months following the end of the intervention. These assessments will include standardised patient-reported outcome measures evaluating symptoms, quality of life, and pain, namely, the Breast Edema Questionnaire (BrEQ), the EORTC-QLQ-BR23, the EQ-5D-5L, and a visual analogue scale (VAS), as well as objective physical measurements of oedema using the LymphScanner (expressed as percentage water content, PWC). In addition to the primary research objective, several sub-studies will be conducted. These will include: (1) a longitudinal analysis of the effects of standard treatment; (2) an evaluation of the responsiveness and clinical utility of the BrEQ; and (3) a cross-sectional analysis of the compression pressure exerted by various compression bras. All sub-studies are methodologically feasible within the projected sample size of the primary objective and aim to provide supplementary insights into the clinical management of breast and truncal oedema.
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Change in Breast Edema Questionnaire (BrEQ) score
Timeframe: From baseline to the end of one month of treatment
Tessa De Vrieze, Phd pt postdoctoral fellow