Poster Presentation Clinical Oncology Society of Australia Annual Scientific Meeting 2026

What are the rate, experiences and outcomes for people from minority ethnic and cultural groups affected by of cancer-related lymphoedema? A systematic review and narrative synthesis.  (146444)

Ashfaq Chauhan 1 , Louise Koelmeyer 2 , Danielle Burns 3 , Marcus Peng 3 , Samran Sheriff 1 , Prince Peprah 1 , Rita Haddad 4 , Reema Harrison 1
  1. Australian Institute of Health Innovation, Macquarie University, North Ryde, New South Wales, Australia
  2. Australian Lymphoedema Education Research and Treatment Centre , Macquarie University, Sydney, NSW, Australia
  3. Macquarie University, North Ryde, New South Wales, Australia
  4. Sisters Cancer Support Group , Wollongong , New South Wales, Australia

Background/Aims: Cancer-related lymphoedema (CRL) is a chronic and debilitating condition significantly affecting psychosocial wellbeing and quality of life of cancer survivors. Whilst people from minority ethnic backgrounds experience inequity in survivorship care, there is lack of evidence synthesis on disparity in the rate, experiences and outcomes associated with CRL among these communities. We conducted a systematic review to provide the evidence synthesis. 

Method: A search strategy was developed and applied to five databases to identify and include peer-reviewed articles published in English, from inception to February 2026. Publications reporting on rate, experience of outcomes related to CRL for people from ethnic minority backgrounds as a full- or sub-sample were included. Title and abstract and Full text screening were completed by two reviewers with a third reviewer resolving the conflict at each stage through consultation. A data extraction tool was developed and used by two reviewers to extract data. Narrative synthesis was conducted. 

Results: A total of 29 studies were included, all originating from the United States and examined breast-cancer related lymphoedema. Studies examining rate of cancer-related lymphoedema consistently reported increased risk of or presence of cancer-related lymphedema in cancer survivors from ethnic minority backgrounds. Three studies reported inequal access to management of CRL for cancer survivors from ethnic minority backgrounds when compared to non-ethnic minority counterparts. Experiences of CRL varied but lack of knowledge or awareness of CRL recorded across the studies that examined experiences of CRL. Disparity in quality of life outcomes for people from ethnic minority backgrounds affected by CRL was also observed in two studies. Social support was identified important by study participants towards better care. 

Implications and conclusion: CRL is an under researched area among cancer survivors from ethnic minority backgrounds. Whilst the review indicate increased rate, nuances in populations characteristics require localised evidence generation.