{"633610":{"#nid":"633610","#data":{"type":"news","title":"App Detects Harsh Side Effect of Breast Cancer Treatment","body":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003ESome 20 percent of breast cancer survivors will suffer from lymphedema, a potentially severe side effect of treatment that makes arms swell with lymph. The disease is often overlooked, but commercially available app-based technology now makes early detection easier, allowing for proactive treatment.\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cp\u003EThe lymphedema monitoring technology originated through research at the Georgia Institute of Technology and was further developed for market by the company LymphaTech, which also emerged from Georgia Tech. Now,\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/academic.oup.com\/ptj\/advance-article\/doi\/10.1093\/ptj\/pzz175\/5733067?searchresult=1\u0022 rel=\u0022noopener noreferrer\u0022 target=\u0022_blank\u0022\u003Ea new study\u003C\/a\u003E\u0026nbsp;has benchmarked the technology, finding that it effectively detects early arm swelling associated with\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.webmd.com\/breast-cancer\/ss\/slideshow-lymphedema\u0022 rel=\u0022noopener noreferrer\u0022 target=\u0022_blank\u0022\u003Elymphedema\u003C\/a\u003E\u0026nbsp;in breast cancer patients.\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cp\u003EThe detection technology is intended to improve not only patients\u0026rsquo; physical health but also their peace of mind and finances.\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Ch3\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ESevere depression\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/h3\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cp\u003E\u0026ldquo;The most immediate awful consequence of lymphedema is seen in mental health. Severe depression is very high,\u0026rdquo; said Brandon Dixon, who co-led the study and is an\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/llbb.gatech.edu\/\u0022 rel=\u0022noopener noreferrer\u0022 target=\u0022_blank\u0022\u003Eassociate professor in Georgia Tech\u0026rsquo;s George W. Woodruff School of Mechanical Engineering\u003C\/a\u003E. \u0026ldquo;If you detect it early, managing it could cost as little as $2,500 in a patient\u0026rsquo;s lifetime. If you catch it too late, the costs can rise as high as $200,000.\u0026rdquo;\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cp\u003E\u0026ldquo;Lymphedema is under-researched, so we don\u0026rsquo;t know directly how it may lead to deadly health conditions, but there are more cases than AIDS, Parkinson\u0026rsquo;s disease, and Alzheimer\u0026rsquo;s disease combined, and it diminishes patients\u0026rsquo; health,\u0026rdquo; Dixon said.\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cp\u003EThe researchers published the detector\u0026rsquo;s test results\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/academic.oup.com\/ptj\/advance-article\/doi\/10.1093\/ptj\/pzz175\/5733067?searchresult=1\u0022 rel=\u0022noopener noreferrer\u0022 target=\u0022_blank\u0022\u003Ein the journal\u0026nbsp;\u003Cem\u003EPhysical Therapy\u003C\/em\u003E\u0026nbsp;in February\u0026nbsp;2019\u003C\/a\u003E. Dixon and Georgia Tech graduates founded LymphaTech through the initiative\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.scheller.gatech.edu\/centers-initiatives\/tiger\/index.html\u0022 rel=\u0022noopener noreferrer\u0022 target=\u0022_blank\u0022\u003ETI:GER, Technology Innovation: Generating Economic Results\u003C\/a\u003E\u0026nbsp;at Georgia Tech\u0026rsquo;s Scheller College of Business. The startup received early funding from the Georgia Research Alliance.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Ch3\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ENo cure\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/h3\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cp\u003ELymphedema can strike breast cancer survivors if surgery includes the removal of a lymph node, slowing the flow of\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Lymph\u0022 rel=\u0022noopener noreferrer\u0022 target=\u0022_blank\u0022\u003Elymph\u003C\/a\u003E. The liquid waste can congest the arm, at first subtly but later so drastically that patients may no longer fit into their clothing.\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cp\u003E\u0026ldquo;It makes the stigma of cancer stick out,\u0026rdquo; Dixon said. \u0026ldquo;And it is a very underappreciated disorder in medical treatment, so patients can feel stuck with it with no way out.\u0026rdquo;\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cp\u003EA German device called a perometer accurately detects arm swelling caused by lymphedema, but perometers are seldom available in the U.S. The research team could find only one in metropolitan Atlanta to benchmark the\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/lymphatechnology.com\/\u0022 rel=\u0022noopener noreferrer\u0022 target=\u0022_blank\u0022\u003ELymphaTech\u003C\/a\u003E\u0026nbsp;system against. It was located at\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/myturningpoint.org\/\u0022 rel=\u0022noopener noreferrer\u0022 target=\u0022_blank\u0022\u003ETurningPoint Breast Cancer Rehabilitation\u003C\/a\u003E, a non-profit center that co-led the new study in collaboration with Dixon.\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cp\u003EThe advantages of the new technology over\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022http:\/\/pero-system.de\/en\/funktionsprinzip-von-perometern\/\u0022 rel=\u0022noopener noreferrer\u0022 target=\u0022_blank\u0022\u003Eperometers\u003C\/a\u003E\u0026nbsp;are cost and convenience. Perimeters are bulky, costly machines, while the LymphaTech system runs on iPhone or iPad and requires only a $400 camera attachment and a paid smartphone app. Both perometers and the app technology\u0026nbsp;simply determine total volume of the arm for swelling diagnosis.\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cp\u003EThe new app system performed comparably in its accuracy to the perometer in the study.\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cp\u003E\u003Csup\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003E\u003Cem\u003E[Ready for graduate school?\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022http:\/\/www.gradadmiss.gatech.edu\/apply-now\u0022 target=\u0022_blank\u0022\u003EHere\u0026#39;s how to apply to Georgia Tech.\u003C\/a\u003E]\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/em\u003E\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/sup\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Ch3\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EAwareness barriers\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/h3\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cp\u003EDeveloping LymphaTech has faced a more challenging component \u0026ndash; spreading lymphedema awareness \u0026ndash; and a less challenging component \u0026ndash; arriving at the technology to make the app measurements work.\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cp\u003E\u0026ldquo;In the past 20 years, depth-sensor cameras have become significantly cheaper and better. Video games, self-driving cars, robotics \u0026ndash; they have all required better depth sensors, and we took advantage of that by using a commercially available lens attachment,\u0026rdquo; Dixon said.\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cp\u003EThe camera attachment creates point clouds, 3D representations of objects, in this case of human arms, which the app uses to calculate the total arm volume. Usually, only one arm is afflicted with lymphedema, allowing clinicians to compare it with the unaffected arm for easier gauging of disease severity.\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cp\u003EAs with perometers, the LymphaTech technology avoids human error that creeps in when recording arm volume with a tape measure, a currently common method to assess lymphedema.\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cp\u003E\u0026ldquo;The real battle has been to convince a medical market that has not much cared about lymphedema in the past or sought solutions to care,\u0026rdquo; Dixon said. \u0026ldquo;Hopefully, the high accessibility of our solution will make it easier to care.\u0026rdquo;\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cp\u003EIn a separate study involving the LymphaTech system, a research team traveled to Sri Lanka to measure lymphedema in legs, Dixon said. And in Germany, the technology is catching on with medical garment manufacturers to help them custom-fit compression sleeves to treat lymphedema.\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EAlso read: \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/rh.gatech.edu\/news\/632029\/flickering-light-mobilizes-brain-chemistry-may-fight-alzheimers\u0022 target=\u0022_blank\u0022\u003EExperimental flickering light device to treat Alzheimer\u0026#39;s triggers special brain chemistry\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EHere\u0026#39;s how to \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/rh.gatech.edu\/subscribe\u0022 target=\u0022_blank\u0022\u003Esubscribe to our free science and technology\u0026nbsp;newsletter\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cem\u003EThese researchers and clinicians co-authored the study: Jill Binkley and Lauren Bober from TurningPoint Breast Cancer Rehabilitation, and LymphaTech\u0026rsquo;s Michael Weiler and Nathan Frank, both of whom graduated from Georgia Tech. Paul Stratford from McMaster University also co-authored the study.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/em\u003E\u003Cem\u003EDisclosures: B. Dixon owns equity in LymphaTech\u003C\/em\u003E\u003Cem\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/em\u003E\u003Cem\u003Eand may benefit financially from the technology. J.B. Dixon is\u003C\/em\u003E\u003Cem\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/em\u003E\u003Cem\u003Eaffiliated with LymphaTech Inc and serves as a scientific advisor.\u003C\/em\u003E\u003Cem\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/em\u003E\u003Cem\u003EGeorgia Institute of Technology has licensed to LymphaTech\u003C\/em\u003E\u003Cem\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/em\u003E\u003Cem\u003Etechnology that is related to this study and that is covered by patent applications for which J.B. Dixon is an inventor. In addition,\u003C\/em\u003E\u003Cem\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/em\u003E\u003Cem\u003EJ.B. Dixon is eligible to receive royalties under the license\u003C\/em\u003E\u003Cem\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/em\u003E\u003Cem\u003Eagreement for LymphaTech.\u003C\/em\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cem\u003EThis content is a public domain news release and may also be republished without charge.\u003C\/em\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EWriter \u0026amp;\u0026nbsp;Media Representative\u003C\/strong\u003E: Ben Brumfield (404-272-2780), email:\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022mailto:ben.brumfield@comm.gatech.edu\u0022\u003Eben.brumfield@comm.gatech.edu\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EGeorgia Institute of Technology\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n","summary":null,"format":"limited_html"}],"field_subtitle":"","field_summary":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EMany breast cancer survivors suffer from lymph collection known as lymphedema. It causes arms to swell, and sufferers often become severely depressed. A new app detects it early, and its makers hope it will help spread awareness of the disease.\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n","format":"limited_html"}],"field_summary_sentence":[{"value":"Many breast cancer survivors suffer from lymph collection known as lymphedema, and a new phone app detects it early."}],"uid":"31759","created_gmt":"2020-03-16 16:37:04","changed_gmt":"2020-06-11 21:21:08","author":"Ben Brumfield","boilerplate_text":"","field_publication":"","field_article_url":"","dateline":{"date":"2020-03-16T00:00:00-04:00","iso_date":"2020-03-16T00:00:00-04:00","tz":"America\/New_York"},"extras":[],"hg_media":{"633607":{"id":"633607","type":"image","title":"App to detect lymphedema in breast cancer survivors","body":null,"created":"1584375595","gmt_created":"2020-03-16 16:19:55","changed":"1584375595","gmt_changed":"2020-03-16 16:19:55","alt":"","file":{"fid":"241095","name":"LymphaTech Scan Image.jpg","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/images\/LymphaTech%20Scan%20Image.jpg","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/images\/LymphaTech%20Scan%20Image.jpg","mime":"image\/jpeg","size":1838790,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/images\/LymphaTech%20Scan%20Image.jpg?itok=bpg_7ks5"}},"633609":{"id":"633609","type":"image","title":"App to detect lymphedema in breast cancer survivors 2","body":null,"created":"1584376458","gmt_created":"2020-03-16 16:34:18","changed":"1584376458","gmt_changed":"2020-03-16 16:34:18","alt":"","file":{"fid":"241097","name":"LymphaTech Scan Image.jpg","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/images\/LymphaTech%20Scan%20Image_0.jpg","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/images\/LymphaTech%20Scan%20Image_0.jpg","mime":"image\/jpeg","size":1838790,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/images\/LymphaTech%20Scan%20Image_0.jpg?itok=nMusf0rx"}},"633608":{"id":"633608","type":"image","title":"App to detect breast cancer side effect uses point cloud","body":null,"created":"1584375725","gmt_created":"2020-03-16 16:22:05","changed":"1584375725","gmt_changed":"2020-03-16 16:22:05","alt":"","file":{"fid":"241096","name":"pointcloud.png","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/images\/pointcloud.png","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/images\/pointcloud.png","mime":"image\/png","size":604441,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/images\/pointcloud.png?itok=Fr8ibUyc"}},"590873":{"id":"590873","type":"image","title":"Lymphatics","body":null,"created":"1493125322","gmt_created":"2017-04-25 13:02:02","changed":"1493125322","gmt_changed":"2017-04-25 13:02:02","alt":"","file":{"fid":"225128","name":"bigstock-lymphatic-system-59943878.jpg","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/images\/bigstock-lymphatic-system-59943878.jpg","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/images\/bigstock-lymphatic-system-59943878.jpg","mime":"image\/jpeg","size":2270952,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/images\/bigstock-lymphatic-system-59943878.jpg?itok=P28IIs5g"}}},"media_ids":["633607","633609","633608","590873"],"groups":[{"id":"1214","name":"News Room"},{"id":"1188","name":"Research Horizons"}],"categories":[{"id":"135","name":"Research"},{"id":"138","name":"Biotechnology, Health, Bioengineering, Genetics"},{"id":"140","name":"Cancer Research"},{"id":"145","name":"Engineering"}],"keywords":[{"id":"73601","name":"lymphedema"},{"id":"73631","name":"lymph"},{"id":"184271","name":"Lymph Node"},{"id":"184272","name":"Lymph Node Metastases"},{"id":"184273","name":"Lymph Node Pathology"},{"id":"184274","name":"Point Cloud"},{"id":"184275","name":"Perometer"},{"id":"14455","name":"Breast Cancer"},{"id":"184276","name":"Breast Cancer And Stress"},{"id":"184277","name":"Breast Cancer Treatment"},{"id":"184278","name":"Breast Cancer Surgery"},{"id":"169575","name":"side effects"}],"core_research_areas":[{"id":"39441","name":"Bioengineering and Bioscience"},{"id":"39501","name":"People and Technology"}],"news_room_topics":[{"id":"106361","name":"Business and Economic Development"},{"id":"71891","name":"Health and Medicine"},{"id":"71881","name":"Science and Technology"}],"event_categories":[],"invited_audience":[],"affiliations":[],"classification":[],"areas_of_expertise":[],"news_and_recent_appearances":[],"phone":[],"contact":[],"email":[],"slides":[],"orientation":[],"userdata":""}}}