Breast CancerNCT07701018
Advancing Patient Care for Lymphatic Pain and Lymphedema
A study testing The-Optimal-Lymph-Flow in people with Breast Cancer and Pain, run by University of Missouri, Kansas City at 1 site in United States.
Trial summary
Lymphatic pain refers to various pain sensations (e.g., pain, aching, soreness, tenderness, burning, stabbing) following breast cancer treatment. Lymphatic pain affects more than half of 4 million patients treated for breast cancer in the United States. Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 18 to 89 years
- Conditions the study is for
- Breast Cancer, Pain, Lymphedema Arm
- What is being tested?
- The-Optimal-Lymph-Flow
- Type of treatment
- Lifestyle or therapy programme
- Could I receive a placebo?
- No, everyone receives an active treatment
- How many people
- 35 participants
- Where
- 1 siteUnited States
- Study dates
- 1 Jul 2026to 31 Dec 2027
- Phase
- Interventional
- Are there results?
- Not yet: the study is under way
Key requirements
Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.
- Ages 18 to 89 years
- All sexes
- No healthy volunteers
- Adult, Older adult
Who may be able to join
- Inclusion criteria for patient participants are a) Patients over age 18 who received surgical treatment for breast cancer at least 3 months prior to the study enrollment; b) Patients reported lymphatic pain; c) Patients who are able to understand the study protocols presented in English language.
Who cannot join
- Exclusion criteria include a) presence of a serious psychiatric condition (e.g., schizophrenia, suicidal intent) indicated by medical chart, treating oncologist or other staff, or study staff interactions that would contraindicate safe study participation; b) known metastatic disease (Stage IV), recurrence of cancer, or lymphedema due to cancer recurrence, or cancer in the thoracic or cervical regions.
Trial locations and contacts
1 site in 1 country. Contact the study team or a site near you to ask about taking part.
United States1 site
University of Missouri-Kansas City
Kansas City, Missouri, 64108
Mei Rosemary Fu, PhD, 9739861758, mei.fu@umkc.edu
About this study
Lymphatic pain refers to various pain sensations (e.g., pain, aching, soreness, tenderness, burning, stabbing) following breast cancer treatment. Lymphatic pain affects more than half of 4 million patients treated for breast cancer in the United States. Lymphatic pain significantly impairs patients' daily living function, increases psychological distress, and decreases quality of life. As a significant risk of lymphedema, lymphatic pain indicates an early stage of lymphedema. Lymphedema is a chronic and incurable swelling caused by an abnormal fluid build-up following breast cancer treatment. Without timely intervention in this early stage, lymphedema can progress into a chronic condition that no surgical or medical interventions can cure.
The purpose of the project is to adapt The-Optimal-Lymph-Flow (TOLF) in clinical practice. A digital lymphatic pain and lymphedema assessment will be implemented in clinical practice, conduct clinician training and deliver TOLF Self-Care interventions to patients with lymphatic pain.
Read the detailed description
Patients with financial hardship are 4.64 times more likely to report lymphatic pain. Further, obesity/high body mass index is an important risk factors for lymphatic pain and lymphedema. Effective management of lymphatic pain can decrease the risk of lymphedema and reverse mild lymphedema as well as improve daily living functions, psychological distress, and quality of life. The-Optimal-Lymph-Flow (TOLF) is a non-pharmacological and digital behavioral intervention that builds patients' self-care skills to promote lymph flow and result in complete pain reduction, reduced lymph fluid level, reversed mild lymphedema, improved psychological distress and quality of life. Of concern, this effective intervention has not been adapted to reduce patient barriers (e.g., available care, cost, time, travel, competing demands) and health system barriers (e.g., intervention availability, staffing, therapist) to timely interventions faced by patients, especially those with financial hardship.
The purpose of the project is to adapt The-Optimal-Lymph-Flow (TOLF) in clinical practice. A digital lymphatic pain and lymphedema assessment will be implemented in clinical practice, conduct clinician training and deliver TOLF Self-Care interventions to patients with lymphatic pain at Richard \& Annette Block Cancer Center at University Health Kansas City. The objectives of the study are: 1) Conduct a pragmatic clinical implementation study with 100 patients to evaluate implementation effectiveness of lymphatic pain assessment; 3) Conduct a pragmatic, one-group, 12-week clinical trial with 35 patients with lymphatic pain to evaluate real-world clinical effectiveness of TOLF Self-Care intervention.
The project has potential to have major impact on advancing patient care for lymphatic pain and lymphedema, especially in patients with financial hardship. The project will showcase the way of how to build clinical capacity to provide quality care for patients with lymphatic pain and lymphedema in health systems across the nation.
- Conditions
- Breast Cancer, Pain, Lymphedema Arm
- Being tested
- The-Optimal-Lymph-Flow
- Keywords
- Lymphatic pain, lymphedema, The-Optimal-Lymph-Flow, breast cancer, pain, lymphedema symptoms
- Medical subject headings
- Breast Neoplasms, Pain, Lymphedema
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
The-Optimal-Lymph-FlowBehavioural
The-Optimal-Lymph-Flow (TOLF Self-Care) is a non-pharmacological and digital behavioral intervention that builds patients' self-care skills to promote lymph flow that leads to complete pain reduction, reduced lymph fluid level, reversed mild lymphedema, and improved quality of life.
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| The-Optimal-Lymph-Flow | Experimental | The-Optimal-Lymph-Flow (TOLF Self-Care) is a non-pharmacological and digital behavioral intervention that builds patients' self-care skills to promote lymph flow that leads to complete pain reduction, reduced lymph fluid level, reversed mild lymphedema, and improved quality of life. Receives: Behavioral: The-Optimal-Lymph-Flow |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
Lymphatic Pain
The Breast Cancer and Lymphedema Symptom Experience Index (BCLE-SEI) Part I, a reliable and valid self-report instrument is used to assess self-reported lymphatic pain. The items are rated on a Likert scale from 0 (no lymphatic pain/swelling) to 4 (greatest severity of lymphatic pain/swelling).
Measured: Pre-intervention and 12 weeks post-intervention
Pain Severity and Interference
Pain Severity and Interference: are measured using the Brief Pain Inventory-Short Form (BPI-SF) with demonstrated reliability and validity.
Measured: Pre-intervention and 12 weeks post-intervention
Secondary outcomes (4)
Daily Living Function
Daily living function is operationalized as Activities of Daily Living (ADLs) that reflect the real-world daily living of breast cancer patients. The 13-item subscale of ADLs in BCLE-SEI Part II is used to assess self-reported difficulty in performing thirteen ADLs.
Measured: Pre-intervention and 12 weeks post-intervention
Psychological Distres
Psychological Distress: The 12-item subscale of psychological/emotional distress subscale from the BCLE-SEI Part II is used to assess the distress of being frustrated, sad, guilt/self-blame, worried, irritable, fearful, angry, lonely, helpless, hopeless, anxious, and depressed.
Measured: Pre-intervention and 12 weeks post-intervention
Self-perception of Quality of life
Self-perception pf Quality of Life: is measured by The 10-item V1.2 Patient Reported Outcome Measure Information System Global Health Scale (PROMIS GHS). Self-perception of quality of life is measured on a scale from 1 (poor), 2 (fair), 3 (good), 4 (very good) to 5 (excellent).
Measured: Pre-intervention and 12 weeks post-intervention
Self-efficacy for Pain Management
The 5-item Chronic Pain Self-Efficacy Scale with good reliability is used to assess patients' certainty about their degree of pain control, pain during daily activities, controlling pain during sleep, and making pain reductions without extra medication.
Measured: Pre-intervention and 12 weeks post-intervention
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted14 Jul 2026
- Study start1 Jul 2026 (estimated)
- Primary completion31 Dec 2027 (estimated)
- Study completion31 Dec 2027 (estimated)
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Other trials for Breast CancerStudies of the same condition, open and under way.
- What the trial phases meanHow a treatment moves from first tests in people to approval.
More details
For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.
Study design
- Study type
- Interventional
- Phase
- Phase N/A
- Primary purpose
- Supportive care
- Allocation
- Not applicable
- Intervention model
- Single group
- Model description
- The-Optimal-Lymph-Flow (TOLF) is a non-pharmacological and digital behavioral intervention that builds patients' self-care skills to promote lymph flow and result in complete pain reduction, reduced lymph fluid level, reversed mild lymphedema, improved psychological distress and quality of life.
- Masking
- None (open label)
- Enrolment
- 35 participants (estimated)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- University of Missouri, Kansas City
- Sponsor type
- University, hospital or other
- Responsible party
- Sponsor
- Investigators
- Mei Rosemary Fu, PhD, Principal investigator, University of Missouri, Kansas City
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07701018
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- 2134300
- Status last verified
- Jul 2026
- First submitted
- 15 Jun 2026
- Last updated
- 14 Jul 2026
- Results posted
- No
- Data monitoring committee
- No
- FDA-regulated drug
- No
- FDA-regulated device
- No
- Individual data sharing
- No: We will not share the individual patient data. However, upon reasonable request, de-identified and aggregated data may be shared.
Study at a glance
From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 14 Jul 2026. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- Advancing Patient Care for Lymphatic Pain and Lymphedema
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07701018
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- 2134300
- Conditions
- Breast Cancer, Pain, Lymphedema Arm
- Keywords
- Lymphatic pain, lymphedema, The-Optimal-Lymph-Flow, breast cancer, pain, lymphedema symptoms
- Study type
- Interventional
- Recruitment status
- Not yet recruiting
- Enrolment
- 35 participants (estimated)
- Lead sponsor
- University of Missouri, Kansas CityUniversity, hospital or other
- Study start
- 1 Jul 2026 (estimated)
- Primary completion
- 31 Dec 2027 (estimated)
- Study completion
- 31 Dec 2027 (estimated)
- First posted
- 14 Jul 2026 (actual)
- Results
- Not posted in the source record
Clinical summary
The research question as the sponsor registered it. This describes what the study plans to test, not what it found.
Lymphatic pain refers to various pain sensations (e.g., pain, aching, soreness, tenderness, burning, stabbing) following breast cancer treatment. Lymphatic pain affects more than half of 4 million patients treated for breast cancer in the United States. Lymphatic pain significantly impairs patients' daily living function, increases psychological distress, and decreases quality of life. As a significant risk of lymphedema, lymphatic pain indicates an early stage of lymphedema. Lymphedema is a chronic and incurable swelling caused by an abnormal fluid build-up following breast cancer treatment. Without timely intervention in this early stage, lymphedema can progress into a chronic condition that no surgical or medical interventions can cure.
The purpose of the project is to adapt The-Optimal-Lymph-Flow (TOLF) in clinical practice. A digital lymphatic pain and lymphedema assessment will be implemented in clinical practice, conduct clinician training and deliver TOLF Self-Care interventions to patients with lymphatic pain.
Detailed description
Patients with financial hardship are 4.64 times more likely to report lymphatic pain. Further, obesity/high body mass index is an important risk factors for lymphatic pain and lymphedema. Effective management of lymphatic pain can decrease the risk of lymphedema and reverse mild lymphedema as well as improve daily living functions, psychological distress, and quality of life. The-Optimal-Lymph-Flow (TOLF) is a non-pharmacological and digital behavioral intervention that builds patients' self-care skills to promote lymph flow and result in complete pain reduction, reduced lymph fluid level, reversed mild lymphedema, improved psychological distress and quality of life. Of concern, this effective intervention has not been adapted to reduce patient barriers (e.g., available care, cost, time, travel, competing demands) and health system barriers (e.g., intervention availability, staffing, therapist) to timely interventions faced by patients, especially those with financial hardship.
The purpose of the project is to adapt The-Optimal-Lymph-Flow (TOLF) in clinical practice. A digital lymphatic pain and lymphedema assessment will be implemented in clinical practice, conduct clinician training and deliver TOLF Self-Care interventions to patients with lymphatic pain at Richard \& Annette Block Cancer Center at University Health Kansas City. The objectives of the study are: 1) Conduct a pragmatic clinical implementation study with 100 patients to evaluate implementation effectiveness of lymphatic pain assessment; 3) Conduct a pragmatic, one-group, 12-week clinical trial with 35 patients with lymphatic pain to evaluate real-world clinical effectiveness of TOLF Self-Care intervention.
The project has potential to have major impact on advancing patient care for lymphatic pain and lymphedema, especially in patients with financial hardship. The project will showcase the way of how to build clinical capacity to provide quality care for patients with lymphatic pain and lymphedema in health systems across the nation.
Study design
- Primary purpose
- Supportive care
- Allocation
- Not applicable
- Intervention model
- Single group
- Masking
- None (open label)
- Number of arms
- 1
- Model description
- The-Optimal-Lymph-Flow (TOLF) is a non-pharmacological and digital behavioral intervention that builds patients' self-care skills to promote lymph flow and result in complete pain reduction, reduced lymph fluid level, reversed mild lymphedema, improved psychological distress and quality of life.
| Arm | Type | Receives |
|---|---|---|
| The-Optimal-Lymph-Flow | Experimental | Behavioral: The-Optimal-Lymph-FlowThe-Optimal-Lymph-Flow (TOLF Self-Care) is a non-pharmacological and digital behavioral intervention that builds patients' self-care skills to promote lymph flow that leads to complete pain reduction, reduced lymph fluid level, reversed mild lymphedema, and improved quality of life. |
Who may qualify
- Ages
- 18 to 89 years
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- Not accepted
- Age groups
- Adult, Older adult
Key inclusion criteria (1 listed)
- Inclusion criteria for patient participants are a) Patients over age 18 who received surgical treatment for breast cancer at least 3 months prior to the study enrollment; b) Patients reported lymphatic pain; c) Patients who are able to understand the study protocols presented in English language.
Key exclusion criteria (1 listed)
- Exclusion criteria include a) presence of a serious psychiatric condition (e.g., schizophrenia, suicidal intent) indicated by medical chart, treating oncologist or other staff, or study staff interactions that would contraindicate safe study participation; b) known metastatic disease (Stage IV), recurrence of cancer, or lymphedema due to cancer recurrence, or cancer in the thoracic or cervical regions.
Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening; this overview does not establish that a patient qualifies. Full inclusion and exclusion criteria.
Interventions
| Intervention | Type | Arms |
|---|---|---|
| The-Optimal-Lymph-FlowThe-Optimal-Lymph-Flow (TOLF Self-Care) is a non-pharmacological and digital behavioral intervention that builds patients' self-care skills to promote lymph flow that leads to complete pain reduction, reduced lymph fluid level, reversed mild lymphedema, and improved quality of life. | Behavioural | The-Optimal-Lymph-Flow |
Primary outcome
Lymphatic Pain
Time frame: Pre-intervention and 12 weeks post-intervention
The Breast Cancer and Lymphedema Symptom Experience Index (BCLE-SEI) Part I, a reliable and valid self-report instrument is used to assess self-reported lymphatic pain. The items are rated on a Likert scale from 0 (no lymphatic pain/swelling) to 4 (greatest severity of lymphatic pain/swelling).
Pain Severity and Interference
Time frame: Pre-intervention and 12 weeks post-intervention
Pain Severity and Interference: are measured using the Brief Pain Inventory-Short Form (BPI-SF) with demonstrated reliability and validity.
4 secondary outcomes
Daily Living Function
Time frame: Pre-intervention and 12 weeks post-intervention
Psychological Distres
Time frame: Pre-intervention and 12 weeks post-intervention
Self-perception of Quality of life
Time frame: Pre-intervention and 12 weeks post-intervention
Self-efficacy for Pain Management
Time frame: Pre-intervention and 12 weeks post-intervention
Results and safety
This study is still under way. Results are not available in the source record yet.
Research links
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govLast updated by the sponsor 14 Jul 2026.
- Individual participant dataSharing planned: No. We will not share the individual patient data. However, upon reasonable request, de-identified and aggregated data may be shared.
Related trials for Breast Cancer
Active, not recruitingPhase 2
Tamoxifen Citrate or Z-Endoxifen Hydrochloride in Treating Patients With Locally Advanced or Metastatic, Estrogen Receptor-Positive, HER2-Negative Breast Cancer
Recurrent Breast Carcinoma, Stage III Breast Cancer AJCC v7
RecruitingPhase 1/2
A Study to Evaluate the Effect of GDC-4198 Alone and in Combination With Giredestrant Versus Abemaciclib and Giredestrant in Participants With Locally Advanced or Metastatic Estrogen Receptor-Positive (ER+), Human Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor-Negative (HER2-) Breast Cancer
Breast Cancer
Not yet recruiting
Podcast-Based Psychosocial Support for Women Newly Diagnosed With Breast Cancer
Breast Cancer
Recruiting
A Study of Skipping Radiation Therapy in People With Breast Cancer
HER2-positive Breast Cancer, Breast Cancer
Active, not recruiting
Dance Study for Post-surgical Pain in Breast Cancer Survivors
Breast Cancer, Survivorship
Referral and contact
AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals. Contact the study team or a site listed below; they decide who can take part.
Mei Rosemary Fu, PhD principal investigator
University of Missouri, Kansas City
1 site in 1 country: see every site and its status.
Questions about this trial
What is this clinical trial studying?
A study testing The-Optimal-Lymph-Flow in people with Breast Cancer and Pain, run by University of Missouri, Kansas City at 1 site in United States.
The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.
Who may be eligible to take part?
The sponsor lists 1 inclusion and 1 exclusion criteria. Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.
Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?
The record says: opening soon, as of the sponsor's last update on 14 Jul 2026. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.
Where is the study taking place?
The record lists 1 site in United States. Whether a site is taking part right now should be confirmed with that site. See every site.
What are the possible benefits and risks?
They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.
Are results available for this study?
This study is still under way. Results are not available in the source record yet.
How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?
Contact Mei Rosemary Fu, PhD (9739861758, mei.fu@umkc.edu), or a site near the patient. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.
What does the primary outcome measure?
Lymphatic Pain (time frame: Pre-intervention and 12 weeks post-intervention). The study lists 2 primary outcomes in all. It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.
Where can I read the original study information?
Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?
No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.
How often is this information updated?
AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 14 Jul 2026.