An De Groef1,2,3, Nele Devoogdt4,5, Ceren Gursen6, Niamh Moloney7,8, Victoria Warpy4, Jolien Daelemans4, Lore Dams4,9,10, Vincent Haenen4,9,10, Elien Van der Gucht4,9,10, An-Kathleen Heroes4,5, Tessa De Vrieze4,9, Elizabeth Dylke11. 1. Department of Rehabilitation Sciences, KU Leuven - University of Leuven, Leuven, Belgium. an.degroef@kuleuven.be. 2. Department of Rehabilitation Sciences and Physiotherapy, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium. an.degroef@kuleuven.be. 3. Pain in Motion International Research Group, Brussel, Belgium. an.degroef@kuleuven.be. 4. Department of Rehabilitation Sciences, KU Leuven - University of Leuven, Leuven, Belgium. 5. Department of Vascular Surgery and Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Centre for Lymphedema, University Hospitals Leuven, Leuven, Belgium. 6. Faculty of Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation, Hacettepe University, Ankara, Turkey. 7. Department of Health Professions, Faculty of Medicine, Health and Human Sciences, Macquarie University, Sydney, NSW, Australia. 8. THRIVE Physiotherapy, Channel Islands, Guernsey, United Kingdom. 9. Department of Rehabilitation Sciences and Physiotherapy, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium. 10. Pain in Motion International Research Group, Brussel, Belgium. 11. Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney, Lidcombe, NSW, Australia.
Abstract
PURPOSE: It is not clear to what extent signs and symptoms other than arm swelling, including pain, altered sensory function, and body perception disturbances, differ between women with measurable and non-measurable breast cancer-related lymphedema (BCRL). A case-control study was performed to compare these signs and symptoms between (1) women with self-reported BCRL with objectively measurable swelling; (2) women with self-reported BCRL without objective confirmation; and (3) a control group with no self-reported BCRL. METHODS: The three groups were compared for (1) the severity of self-reported signs and symptoms of BCRL, (2) problems in functioning related to BCRL, (3) pain-related outcomes, (4) sensory functions, and (5) body perception. RESULTS: All self-reported outcomes related to signs and symptoms of BCRL and problems in functioning were significantly different between the control group and the other two groups with and without measurable self-reported BCRL (p < 0.001-0.003). Except for "skin texture" (p = 0.01), "hand swelling" (p=0.301) and 'difficulty writing' (p=0.676), no differences were found between groups. For pain-related outcomes, sensory function, and body perception, significant differences were only found for the mechanical detection threshold (p < 0.01) and self-reported disturbances in body perception (p < 0.001) between the self-reported BCRL groups and control group. CONCLUSIONS: Diverse signs and symptoms related to BCRL, sensory function, and perception were different among women with self-reported BCRL compared to controls. No differences between women with and without measurable self-reported BCRL were found. IMPLICATIONS FOR CANCER SURVIVORS: The presence of self-reported BCRL, with or without measurable swelling, is a first indication for the need of further diagnostic evaluation.
PURPOSE: It is not clear to what extent signs and symptoms other than arm swelling, including pain, altered sensory function, and body perception disturbances, differ between women with measurable and non-measurable breast cancer-related lymphedema (BCRL). A case-control study was performed to compare these signs and symptoms between (1) women with self-reported BCRL with objectively measurable swelling; (2) women with self-reported BCRL without objective confirmation; and (3) a control group with no self-reported BCRL. METHODS: The three groups were compared for (1) the severity of self-reported signs and symptoms of BCRL, (2) problems in functioning related to BCRL, (3) pain-related outcomes, (4) sensory functions, and (5) body perception. RESULTS: All self-reported outcomes related to signs and symptoms of BCRL and problems in functioning were significantly different between the control group and the other two groups with and without measurable self-reported BCRL (p < 0.001-0.003). Except for "skin texture" (p = 0.01), "hand swelling" (p=0.301) and 'difficulty writing' (p=0.676), no differences were found between groups. For pain-related outcomes, sensory function, and body perception, significant differences were only found for the mechanical detection threshold (p < 0.01) and self-reported disturbances in body perception (p < 0.001) between the self-reported BCRL groups and control group. CONCLUSIONS: Diverse signs and symptoms related to BCRL, sensory function, and perception were different among women with self-reported BCRL compared to controls. No differences between women with and without measurable self-reported BCRL were found. IMPLICATIONS FOR CANCER SURVIVORS: The presence of self-reported BCRL, with or without measurable swelling, is a first indication for the need of further diagnostic evaluation.
Authors: Anna Michelotti; Marco Invernizzi; Gianluca Lopez; Daniele Lorenzini; Francesco Nesa; Alessandro De Sire; Nicola Fusco Journal: Breast Date: 2018-12-17 Impact factor: 4.380
Authors: Jack Crosbie; Sharon L Kilbreath; Elizabeth Dylke; Kathryn M Refshauge; Leslie L Nicholson; Jane M Beith; Andrew J Spillane; Kate White Journal: Phys Ther Date: 2010-03-11
Authors: Hiba A Bani; Peter A Fasching; Michael M Lux; Claudia Rauh; Michaela Willner; Irina Eder; Christian Loehberg; Michael Schrauder; Matthias W Beckmann; Mayada R Bani Journal: Patient Educ Couns Date: 2007-02-27