Impact of Lymphedema on Women's Lives After Gynaecological Cancer: An Integrative Review.

The included studies were often low quality: only 19.5% met all Mixed Methods Appraisal Tool criteria, and many had small samples. There was no agreed definition or measurement of lower-limb lymphedema, so studies used different clinical, questionnaire, imaging and limb-volume methods and could not be compared directly. The review did not test treatment effects; it synthesises identification, impact and coping, so it cannot show that compression, massage, exercise, physical therapy or occupational therapy improves outcomes. Most included studies used quantitative questionnaires, and only six qualitative studies allowed women to describe their lives in detail. Language restriction to English and Scandinavian languages may have missed relevant studies. Some findings relied on self-reported swelling or diagnosis and may be affected by recall bias. The studies came from specific healthcare systems and time periods, so the findings may not apply everywhere.

The authors report no funding and no conflicts of interest.

Do not conclude that physical therapy, occupational therapy or compression works for lower-limb lymphedema from this review. It describes women's experiences and care gaps; it did not test treatment effects, and the included studies were low quality and inconsistent.