OBJECTIVE: The aim of the study was to identify factors associated with worse physical and emotional functioning of breast cancer survivors with upper extremity lymphedema. METHODS: 1250 sets of questionnaires consisting of WHO-DAS II, EORTC QLQ-C30, EORTC QLQ-BR23 and GHQ-30 were mailed to women who underwent a breast cancer surgery at the Lower Silesian Oncology Center in Poland between January 1998 and December 2005. RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS: The response rate was 33.47%. 117 women were included into a lymphedema group and 211 into a group without this complication. Women with lymphedema were more disabled (overall disability (DAS) score 39.78 versus 34.67; p<0.001), reported symptoms from the upper extremity (shoulder or arm pain and difficulties in arm movement) and from the operated breast (pain and swelling) 2-3 times more often, experienced poorer quality of life (global quality of life (QOL) score 0.50 versus 0.57; p=0.005) and higher psychological distress (GHQ score 10.61 versus 8.01; p=0.007) in comparison to breast cancer survivors without lymphedema. The factors associated with higher DAS score, higher GHQ score and lower QOL score in women with lymphedema were as following: pain in the upper limb (mainly shoulder and arm), pain in operated breast, difficulties with arm movement, localization of lymphedema within the hand or in operated breast, a history of dermatolymphangitis and of receiving chemotherapy. Severity of lymphedema, younger age, BMI and localization of lymphedema within the dominant limb were not considerably related to worse outcomes in these women.
OBJECTIVE: The aim of the study was to identify factors associated with worse physical and emotional functioning of breast cancer survivors with upper extremity lymphedema. METHODS: 1250 sets of questionnaires consisting of WHO-DAS II, EORTC QLQ-C30, EORTC QLQ-BR23 and GHQ-30 were mailed to women who underwent a breast cancer surgery at the Lower Silesian Oncology Center in Poland between January 1998 and December 2005. RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS: The response rate was 33.47%. 117 women were included into a lymphedema group and 211 into a group without this complication. Women with lymphedema were more disabled (overall disability (DAS) score 39.78 versus 34.67; p<0.001), reported symptoms from the upper extremity (shoulder or arm pain and difficulties in arm movement) and from the operated breast (pain and swelling) 2-3 times more often, experienced poorer quality of life (global quality of life (QOL) score 0.50 versus 0.57; p=0.005) and higher psychological distress (GHQ score 10.61 versus 8.01; p=0.007) in comparison to breast cancer survivors without lymphedema. The factors associated with higher DAS score, higher GHQ score and lower QOL score in women with lymphedema were as following: pain in the upper limb (mainly shoulder and arm), pain in operated breast, difficulties with arm movement, localization of lymphedema within the hand or in operated breast, a history of dermatolymphangitis and of receiving chemotherapy. Severity of lymphedema, younger age, BMI and localization of lymphedema within the dominant limb were not considerably related to worse outcomes in these women.
Authors: Lauren S Jammallo; Cynthia L Miller; Marybeth Singer; Nora K Horick; Melissa N Skolny; Michelle C Specht; Jean O'Toole; Alphonse G Taghian Journal: Breast Cancer Res Treat Date: 2013-11 Impact factor: 4.872
Authors: Jeanette Ezzo; Eric Manheimer; Margaret L McNeely; Doris M Howell; Robert Weiss; Karin I Johansson; Ting Bao; Linda Bily; Catherine M Tuppo; Anne F Williams; Didem Karadibak Journal: Cochrane Database Syst Rev Date: 2015-05-21
Authors: Rachel Meadows; Timethia Bonner; Megha Dobhal; Sujana Borra; Jordan A Killion; Raheem Paxton Journal: Support Care Cancer Date: 2016-10-05 Impact factor: 3.603
Authors: Pia Klernäs; Aina Johnsson; Vibeke Horstmann; Linda J Kristjanson; Karin Johansson Journal: Qual Life Res Date: 2015-01-30 Impact factor: 4.147
Authors: Baukje Miedema; Ryan Hamilton; Sue Tatemichi; Roanne Thomas-Maclean; Thomas F Hack; Elizabeth Quinlan; Anna Towers; Andrea Tilley; Winkle Kwan Journal: J Cancer Surviv Date: 2011-07-07 Impact factor: 4.442
Authors: Mei R Fu; Sheila H Ridner; Sophia H Hu; Bob R Stewart; Janice N Cormier; Jane M Armer Journal: Psychooncology Date: 2012-10-09 Impact factor: 3.894
Authors: Fangdi Sun; Alexander Hall; Megan P Tighe; Cheryl L Brunelle; Hoda E Sayegh; Tessa C Gillespie; Kayla M Daniell; Alphonse G Taghian Journal: Breast Cancer Res Treat Date: 2018-07-30 Impact factor: 4.872
Authors: Mei R Fu; Deborah Axelrod; Amber A Guth; Francis Cartwright; Zeyuan Qiu; Judith D Goldberg; June Kim; Joan Scagliola; Robin Kleinman; Judith Haber Journal: Ann Surg Oncol Date: 2014-05-09 Impact factor: 5.344
Authors: Barbara A Springer; Ellen Levy; Charles McGarvey; Lucinda A Pfalzer; Nicole L Stout; Lynn H Gerber; Peter W Soballe; Jerome Danoff Journal: Breast Cancer Res Treat Date: 2010-02 Impact factor: 4.872