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Posted by Cassie on 1/27/2009, 11:54 pm, in reply to "new lymphedema treatment!"
12.72.92.25
Hi, Sheryl,
The Riancorp is a low-level laser. It actually has nothing to do with skin conditions or anti-inflammatory treatment -- the way it works on a cellular level is not known, but the theory is that it breaks up fiibrosis, and that in turn increases lymph flow in some cases. Riancorp advertises it as "FDA approved," but that is not accurate. It's FDA "certified," which is essentially a loophole in FDA oversight that doesn't require comprehensive testing to assure that it's either effective or (much more important) safe. In other words, the studies done on the laser as treatment for lymphedema are small and without an adequate control arm or lang-term follow-up, so information about safety in its use for post-breast cancer lymphedema does not exist.
In other words, your hospital is wise to deny funds for this product until proper testing can be done to assure your safety. Here's some information about it:
http://www.stepup-speakout.org/Lasers_for_lymphedema_treatment.htm
Hope that helps,
Cassie
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