McGill.CA / McGill Lymphedema Research Program

Publications and Presentations

Selected Publications

  • Towers A, ed. ‘The ketogenic diet and lymphedema: a point-counterpoint discussion’. Pathways Canadawide magazine. Spring 2023 p. 9-13
  • Goudarzi S, Whyte J, Boily M, Towers A, Kilgour D, Rivaz H. ‘Segmentation of Arm Ultrasound Images in Breast Cancer-Related Lymphedema: A Database and Deep Learning Algorithm’. IEEE March 2023. DOI: 10.1109/TBME.2023.3253646
  • Towers A , Brorson H, Corda D, Greco F, Perbeck L, Ure C, Pomata C. ‘Report of the Lipoedema Diagnosis Working Group’. International Lipoedema Association, December 2022
  • Towers A. ‘Update to the Canadian clinical practice guideline for best-practice management of breast cancer-related lymphedema: study protocol’. McNeely M, Harris S, Dolgoy N, Onazi M, Parkinson J, Radke L, Kostaras X, Dennett L, Ryan J, Dalzell M, Kennedy A, Capozzi L, Towers A, Campbell K, Binkley J, Karen M. King, Keast D. Canadian Medical Association Journal Open. April 2022.
  • Letellier ME, Ibrahim M, Towers A, Chaput G. (2024). "Incidence of lymphedema related to various cancers". Medical Oncology, 41(10), 245.
  • Ibrahim M, Yung A, Letellier M-E, Towers A (2023). ‘Melanoma and Lymphedema – A roundtable discussion’. Pathways Magazine, Summer 2023.
  • Stout NL, Ibrahim M, Armer J, Vargo M, Rodrick J, Nourse J, Aldrich MB. (2024) "Consensus statement on non-cancer-related risk factors for development of secondary lymphedema". Medical Oncology, 41(11), 284.
  • Towers A, Letellier ME. (2021). ‘Lymphedema, Chapter in Palliative Care – A Case-Based Manual’, 4th edition, MacDonald S, Boyle A, Herx L, eds, Oxford University Press.
  • Shallwani SM, Towers A, Newman A, Salvador S, Yung A, Gilbert L, Gotlieb WH, Zeng X, Thomas D. (2021), 'Feasibility of a pilot randomized controlled trial examining a multidimensional intervention in women with gynecological cancer at risk of lymphedema'. Current Oncology, 28(1):455-470. https://doi.org/10.3390/curroncol28010048
  • Shallwani SM, Hodgson P, Towers A. (2020). 'Examining obesity in lymphedema: a retrospective study of 178 new patients at a Canadian hospital-based lymphedema clinic'. Physiotherapy Canada, 72(1):18-25. DOI: 10.3138/ptc-2018-0076
  • Letellier ME, Dalzell M-A. (2020). ‘Canadian hospital-based lymphedema programs – Report of the round table discussion’. Pathways Magazine, Spring 2020.
  • Chaput G, Ibrahim M, Towers A. (2020), 'Cancer-related lymphedema: clinical pearls for providers'. Current Oncology. 2020; 27(6):336-340. doi:10.3747/co.27.7225
  • Rockson SG, Keeley V, Kilbreath S, Szuba A, Towers A. (2019). ‘Cancer-associated secondary lymphoedema’. Nature Reviews Disease Primers. doi.org/10.1038/ s41572-019-0072-5.
  • Hashemi HS, Fallone S, Boily M, Towers A, Kilgour RD, Rivaz H. ‘Assessment of Mechanical Properties of Tissue in Breast Cancer-Related Lymphedema Using Ultrasound Elastography’. Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE), Transactions-Ultrasonics, Ferroelectrics and Frequency Control (TUFFC), October 2019; 66: 541-550; doi: 10.1109/TUFFC.2018.2876056.
  • Hashemi H, Fallone S, Boily M, Towers A, Kilgour RD, Rivaz H. ‘Ultrasound elastography of breast cancer-related lymphedema’. Biomedical Imaging (ISBI 2018), June 2018 IEEE 15th International Symposium, pp. 1491–1495.
  • Shallwani SM, Towers A. (2018), 'Self-management strategies for malignant lymphedema: a case report with one-year and four-year follow-up data'. Physiotherapy Canada, 70(3): 204-211. DOI: 10.3138/ptc.2016-94
  • Ibrahim M, Lau G, Smirnow S, Buono AT, Cooke A, Gartshore K, Johnson K. (2018), 'A multidisciplinary preoperative teaching session for women awaiting breast cancer surgery: a quality improvement initiative'. Rehabilitation Process and Outcome, 7, 1179572718790937.
  • Vorstenbosch J, McCarthy CM, Shamsunder MG, Polanco T, Dabic S, Wiser I, Matros E, Dayan J, Disa J, Pusic A, Cavalli MR, Encarnacion E, Lee M, Mehrara B, and Nelson JA. ‘An Evaluation of Patient Reported Outcomes with the Use of Smooth Versus Textured Implants in Postmastectomy Breast Reconstruction’. Accepted for publication in Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery.
  • Azzi A, Chocron Y, Boudahana G, Kokosis G, and Vorstenbosch J. ‘Axilla vs. Wrist as the Recipient Site in Vascularized Lymph Node Transfer for Breast Cancer-Related Lymphedema: A Systematic Review, Meta-Analysis’. Submitted to Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery.

Selected Presentations

  • Towers A. ‘New guidelines for lipedema diagnosis’. National Lymphedema Conference, Canadian Lymphedema Framework, Toronto, ON, November 2023
  • Towers A. ‘Care of lymphedema for patients in palliative care’. National Lymphedema Conference, Canadian Lymphedema Framework, Toronto, ON, November 2023
  • Letellier ME, Rotholc S, Towers A. ‘How does lymphedema and its care impact body image and sexuality?’ National Lymphedema Conference, Canadian Lymphedema Framework, Toronto, ON, November 2023
  • Towers A. ‘Les oedèmes des membres inférieurs et la prévention des plaies’. IIPQ, Québec, September 2023
  • Towers A. ‘Report from the lipoedema diagnosis group of the ILA’. International Lymphedema Association Conference, Nottingham UK June 2023
  • Towers A. ’What is lipoedema and what are the criteria for diagnosis?’ European Association for the Study of Obesity Webinar, April 2023
  • Towers A. ‘Le lymphœdème et l’œdème chronique : comment prévenir les cellulites et les plaies’, Association des Médecins Omnipraticiens de la Mauricie CME, Québec, April 2023.
  • Towers A. ‘Le lymphœdème et le système de santé : le contexte québécois et Canadien’. Casley-Smith International training program for lymphedema therapists, Montreal, Quebec, March 2023.
  • Vorstenbosch J, McCarthy CM, Shamsunder MG, Polanco TO, Dabic S, Wiser I, Matros E, Dayan J, Disa JJ, Andrea L Pusic AL, Cavalli MR, Encarnacion E, Lee M, Mehrara BJ, Nelson JA. ‘Smooth Versus Textured Implants in Postmastectomy Breast Reconstruction: Evaluation of Patient-Reported Outcomes and Clinical Complications’. Accepted for an oral presentation at the Northeastern Society of Plastic Surgeons, online, September 2020.

  • Ibrahim, M. “Lymphedema Association of Quebec and its role in assisting patients with lymphedema”. Quebec Association of Vascular and Endovascular Surgery Congress, May 24 and 25, 2024

  • Shallwani S. ‘Gynecological cancer-related lymphedema: considerations for an under-represented lymphedema population’. Invited speaker. National Lymphedema Conference Toronto, ON, 1-2 November, 2019.
  • Shallwani SM, Towers A, Newman A, Salvador S, Zeng Z, Gilbert L, Gotlieb W, Thomas D. ‘Early compression therapy and individualized exercise in women treated for gynecological cancer at risk of developing lymphedema: feasibility / preliminary findings of a pilot RCT’. Paper presented at the National Lymphedema Conference Toronto, ON, 1-2 November, 2019.
  • Letellier M-E, Ibrahim M, Towers A. ‘Incidence of lymphedema related to various cancer and their treatment’. Lymphology Association of North America Summit, St. Louis, MO, USA, October 2023.
  • Letellier M-E, Ibrahim M, Yung A, Cama G, Côté N, Chaput G, Towers A. ‘Independent prospective follow-up of lymphedema patients who have undergone lymphatic surgeries’. 11th International Lymphedema Framework Conference, Nottingham, UK, June 2023.
  • Ibrahim M, Letellier M-E, Yung A, Cama G, Côté N, Chaput G, Towers A. ‘Management of lymphedema related to head and neck cancer’. 11th International Lymphedema Framework Conference, Nottingham, UK, June 2023.
  • Towers A. ’Update on surgical treatments for lymphedema and lipedema’. Vodder Review Course, Vancouver BC, April 2022
  • Towers A. ‘Updates on malignant lymphedema therapy in palliative care: workshop’. National Lymphedema Conference Toronto, ON, 1-2 November, 2019.
  • Towers A. ‘Surgery for lymphedema: the CLF statement’. National Lymphedema Conference Toronto, ON, 1-2 November, 2019.
  • Towers A. ‘Inequalities in access to lymphedema assessment and follow-up in Quebec’. National Lymphedema Conference Toronto, ON, 1-2 November, 2019.
  • Towers A. ‘Nouveautés en recherche pour le lymphoedème’. Vodder Review Course for lymphedema therapists, Montreal August 2019.
  • Towers A. ‘Les oedèmes chroniques et le lymphoedème : implications pour les dermatologues’. Société de dermatologie de Montréal, Jan 31 2019.
  • Towers A. ‘Les oedèmes chroniques et le lymphoedème : implications pour les dermatologues’. Congrès de la Société de dermatologie du Québec, Québec, Jan 18 2019.
  • Letellier, M-E., Henry, L., Turgeon. C., Chelloug, A. Meterissian, S. ‘The needs, the benefits and the challenges of starting a breast cancer preoperative program’. National Lymphedema Conference Toronto, ON, 1-2 November, 2019.
  • Letellier, M-E., Henry, L., Turgeon. C., Chelloug, A. Meterissian, S. ‘Modified decongestive lymphatic therapy to meet hospital treatment’s reality’. National Lymphedema Conference Toronto, ON, 1-2 November, 2019.
  • Letellier, M-E., Henry, L., Turgeon, C., Saini, S., Meterissian, S. ‘The ideal CDT situation versus one Montreal (Quebec, Canada) hospital clinic’s reality; How we are treating and helping our patients’. Walchsee lymphology winter meeting, January 11-12, 2019.
  • Letellier, M-E. ‘Le lymphœdème post-cancer du sein et l’activité physique’. Symposium Kinésiologie-Oncologie. Orford, Qc, Canada, May 2nd 2019.
  • Ibrahim M, Towers A, Jutras M, Yung A, Letellier ME, Chaput G, Harrison JR, Azlag T. ‘Follow-up of Lymphaticovenous Anastomosis and Lymph Node Transplantation Surgery: A Case Series Report’. Oral plenary presentation. National Lymphedema Conference Toronto, ON, 1-2 November, 2019.
  • Ibrahim M. ‘Humanitarian Mission in Tanzania-Raising Lymphedema awareness in Africa’. Oral Presentation. National Lymphedema Conference Toronto, ON, 1-2 November, 2019.
  • Ibrahim M. ‘Breast Cancer Related Lymphedema Management’. Invited Guest Speaker. Cancer Rehab International Conference on Cancer Rehabilitation, Chennai, India, June 2019
  • Cama G, Letellier ME, Ibrahim M, Harrison J, Chaput G, Towers A. ‘Increase Awareness of Dragon Boating Benefits In Lymphedema Patients’. Poster presentation. National Lymphedema Conference Toronto, ON, 1-2 November, 2019.
  • Cama G, Letellier ME, Ibrahim M, Chaput G, Towers A. ‘Lymphedema Triggers’. Poster presentation. National Lymphedema Conference Toronto, ON, 1-2 November, 2019. Honorary award granted for poster presentation.
  • Marshall A, Wright M, Towers A, Kilgour RD, St-Onge N. ‘Is decreased functional capacity linked to balance in individuals with lower-limb lymphedema?’ Abstract accepted for oral presentation. National Lymphedema Conference, Toronto, ON, November 2019.
  • Wright M, Marshall A, Towers A, Kilgour RD, St-Onge N. ‘Do women with lower-limb lymphedema use more ankle muscle co-contraction to maintain balance during quiet standing?’ Poster accepted to the 9th International Lymphoedema Framework Conference, Chicago, USA, June 2019
  • Whyte J, Fallone S, Hashemi H, Towers A, Boily M, Rosenthall L, Rivaz H, Kilgour R. D. ‘Are differences in handgrip strength related to skeletal muscle thickness between healthy women and those with breast cancer-related lymphedema?’ Abstract accepted for oral presentation. National Lymphedema Conference, Toronto, ON, November 2019.
  • Shallwani SM, Towers A, Salvador S, Newman A, Zeng Z, Gilbert L, Gotlieb W. ‘Feasibility of recruitment to a pilot trial examining the effects of early compression and exercise in women treated for gynecological cancer’. Poster presented at the 8th International Lymphoedema Framework Conference, Rotterdam, the Netherlands, 2018.
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