Secondary outcomes
cellulitis, cancer, lymphoedema
CELLULITIS, CANCER, LYMPHOEDEMA, ARM SWELLING

Quality of Life (measured by Trial Outcome Index[TOI] and FACT‐B + 4) at 12, 18 & 24‐months post‐surgery,The FACT‐B + 4 is a validated forty item cancer specific instrument which has 4 additional arm morbidity questions relevant to axillary surgery.Incidence of cellulitis,Incidence of moderate lymphoedema (RAVI > 20%) by 24‐months.Effect of BMI on lymphoedema incidenceParticipants in the intervention group were fitted by a lymphoedema practitioner with a graduated compression garment (Sigvaris:CE, 20–24 mmHg round knit) which covered the whole arm from the wrist to the upper arm and was worn daily for 1 year after which it was discontinued. And 4 garments were provided to each participant to last for the year. All patients were reviewed 6 monthly. The patients in the control group, whose arm swelling increased to RAVI > 10% (lymphoedema) were considered to have failed control management and an appropriate compression sleeve provided as treatment by a lymphoedema therapist. Those in the intervention group whose RAVI increased to >10 were also recorded as having lymphoedema and their further 1 treatment delivered out of trial by lymphoedema nurses.The trial sought to change patient practice by empowering women to use arm sleeves to manage their own arm swelling, rather than consult lymphoedema nurses.