HealthCare News
Home Treatment for Cancer-Related Swelling May Slash CostsFRIDAY, Dec. 5, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Home treatment for cancer-related lymphedema -- swelling due to fluid buildup -- reduces the cost of treating the condition, a new study says. This swelling, which is caused by the removal of or damage to lymph nodes during cancer treatment, can be painful and debilitating. It's also incurable. Researchers examined the home use of pneumatic compression garments to treat lymphedema. The garments inflate and deflate in cycles to help drain buildup of lymph fluid that causes the swelling. The average annual cost of care for a patient with lymphedema fell from slightly more than $62,000 to $50,000 when the pneumatic compression devices were used at home, according to the study published online Dec. 3 in the journal PLoS One. Read entire article... |
