Bettina Boeer1, Anna Seller2, Birgitt Schoenfisch3, Ute Krainick-Strobel4, Andreas Dietrich5, Sara Y Brucker2, Diethelm Wallwiener2, Andreas Niess6, Markus Hahn2. 1. Department of Women's Health, University Hospital of Tuebingen, Calwerstrasse 7, 72076, Tuebingen, Germany. bettina.boeer@med.uni-tuebingen.de. 2. Department of Women's Health, University Hospital of Tuebingen, Calwerstrasse 7, 72076, Tuebingen, Germany. 3. Research Institute for Women's Health, University of Tuebingen, Tuebingen, Germany. 4. Mammography Screening Centre Tuebingen, Tuebingen, Germany. 5. Faculty of Economics and Social Sciences, Institute for Sports Science, University of Tuebingen, Tuebingen, Germany. 6. Department of Sports Medicine, University Hospital of Tuebingen, Tuebingen, Germany.
Abstract
PURPOSE: Surgery and radiotherapy as part of breast cancer treatment can lead to lymphoedema of the upper extremities (breast cancer-related lymphoedema = BCRL) and reduce the quality of life (health-related quality of life = HRQoL). The aim of the present study was to investigate the influence of paddling in a dragon boat (PP) on HRQoL and BCRL in breast cancer survivors (BCS). METHODS: Between April and October 2017, a prospective case-control study evaluated the effects of PP compared to a control group. In the paddle group (n = 28), weekly arm circumference measurements were taken at four defined anatomic areas of the arm before and after training; in the control group (n = 70), the measurements were taken once a month. At the beginning and end of the study, questionnaires from both groups (SF 36, EORTC QLQ C30) were evaluated to understand the differences in HRQoL. RESULTS: The paddle group started with a higher HRQoL compared to the control group. Most interesting, whether the affected or unaffected arm, whether before or after training-the arm circumference decreased over time in the paddling group. A pre-existing lymphoedema was not negatively influenced by paddling. In the paddle group, the physical health was constant over the season, while the physical health of the control group decreased significantly over time. CONCLUSION: PP in a dragon boat does not lead to the development or worsening of pre-existing lymphoedema due to breast cancer therapy, and seems to have a positive effect on the quality of life.
PURPOSE: Surgery and radiotherapy as part of breast cancer treatment can lead to lymphoedema of the upper extremities (breast cancer-related lymphoedema = BCRL) and reduce the quality of life (health-related quality of life = HRQoL). The aim of the present study was to investigate the influence of paddling in a dragon boat (PP) on HRQoL and BCRL in breast cancer survivors (BCS). METHODS: Between April and October 2017, a prospective case-control study evaluated the effects of PP compared to a control group. In the paddle group (n = 28), weekly arm circumference measurements were taken at four defined anatomic areas of the arm before and after training; in the control group (n = 70), the measurements were taken once a month. At the beginning and end of the study, questionnaires from both groups (SF 36, EORTC QLQ C30) were evaluated to understand the differences in HRQoL. RESULTS: The paddle group started with a higher HRQoL compared to the control group. Most interesting, whether the affected or unaffected arm, whether before or after training-the arm circumference decreased over time in the paddling group. A pre-existing lymphoedema was not negatively influenced by paddling. In the paddle group, the physical health was constant over the season, while the physical health of the control group decreased significantly over time. CONCLUSION: PP in a dragon boat does not lead to the development or worsening of pre-existing lymphoedema due to breast cancer therapy, and seems to have a positive effect on the quality of life.
Authors: Prue Cormie; Kate Pumpa; Daniel A Galvão; Elizabeth Turner; Nigel Spry; Christobel Saunders; Yvonne Zissiadis; Robert U Newton Journal: J Cancer Surviv Date: 2013-04-20 Impact factor: 4.442