Risk factors contributing to the development of secondary lymphedema have historically been attributed to cancer treatment-related factors [1, 2] (e.g., surgical removal of lymph nodes and irradiation to lymphatic tissue) and non-cancer treatment-related factors [3] (e.g., medical co-morbidities, such as vascular conditions, and behavioral factors, such as limb overuse). Considering the influence that social, behavioral, and environmental factors have on an individual’s overall cancer-related health outcomes, it is prudent to consider that these factors may influence the risk for developing cancer-related morbidity, such as secondary lymphedema.

Social determinants of health (SDOH) are defined as non-medical factors that influence health outcomes, commonly characterized based on the … “circumstances where an individual is born, grows up, lives, works, and ages… and the systems put in place to deal with illness…These circumstances are in turn shaped by a wider set of forces: economics, social policies, and politics” [4]. Social determinants are commonly characterized across five domains: Healthcare Access and Quality, Education Access and Quality, Neighborhood and Built Environment, Social and Community Context, and Economic Stability [4]. Heightened awareness has been drawn to the effect of social determinants as factors contributing to cancer onset and outcomes [5], with recent calls to increase awareness of and attention to assessing and addressing these factors in health care settings, specifically as they relate to cancer morbidity [6].

While substantial evidence supports the role of SDOH in influencing cancer incidence and the risk for disease mortality, only recently have these determinants been investigated as potential risk factors for cancer treatment-related morbidity, such as lymphedema. This manuscript provides consensus recommendations to guide clinical practice and research in considering these non-medical factors as risk factors for developing lymphedema.