scholarly journals The influence of breast cancer related lymphedema on women’s return-to-work

2020 ◽  
Vol 16 ◽  
pp. 174550652090572 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yuanlu Sun ◽  
Cheryl L Shigaki ◽  
Jane M Armer
Keyword(s):  
Breast Cancer ◽  
Return To Work ◽  
Work Experience ◽  
Breast Cancer Survivors ◽  
Structured Interview ◽  
Develop Breast Cancer ◽  
Breast Cancer Surgery ◽  
Personal Factors ◽  
Case Study Methodology ◽  
Breast Cancer Related Lymphedema

Background: Lymphedema is one of the major treatment complications following breast cancer surgery and radiation. As the majority of women who develop breast cancer are at the age of employment, occupational functioning and employment are issues of concern. This study is novel in exploring the ways that lymphedema affects their work experience. Methods: A multiple-case study methodology drawn from Yin’s definition was employed. A total of 13 female survivors who developed breast cancer–related lymphedema participated by completing a survey and a 60-min semi-structured interview. Results: Four main themes emerged: (1) breast cancer–related lymphedema affects physical and emotional functioning associated with work; (2) ongoing treatment for breast cancer–related lymphedema creates challenges for work; (3) environmental factors affect the return-to-work experience; and (4) personal factors play a key role in adjusting to return-to-work. Conclusion: Both breast cancer–related lymphedema and its treatment have direct and indirect effects on work, with environmental and personal factors also shaping the work-return experience. This study suggests that breast cancer survivors with lymphedema who wish to return to work face potential barriers, and that gaps remain in the availability of supports.

scholarly journals The influence of breast cancer-related lymphedema on women's return-to-work

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
◽  
Yuanlu Sun
Keyword(s):  
Breast Cancer ◽  
Environmental Factors ◽  
Return To Work ◽  
Work Experience ◽  
Breast Cancer Survivors ◽  
Develop Breast Cancer ◽  
International Classification Of Functioning ◽  
Personal Factors ◽  
Breast Cancer Patients ◽  
Breast Cancer Related Lymphedema

The majority of women who develop breast cancer are under retirement age. Therefore, occupational functioning and employment are issues of significant concern. Breast cancer-related lymphedema (BCRL) is one of the major treatment complications for breast cancer patients and it has been shown to be associated with adverse work outcomes. This study is one of the first to ask "how and why" lymphedema may interact with breast cancer survivors' return-to-work. The International Classification of Functioning, Disability, and Health (ICF), which was adopted to guide research design and analysis of data related to health outcomes, was used as a platform for thinking about the phenomenon of return-to-work. Case study methodologies drawn from Yin's (2014) definition were employed in this dissertation study. Thirteen women with BCRL were enrolled in this study. Participants completed a survey and then participated in a sixty-minute semi-structured individual interview. The results suggested that the return-to-work experience was shaped by interactions of the disease processes, the work activities required, the individual, and an array of environmental factors. Four main themes emerged: 1) BCRL affects physical and emotional functioning associated with work; 2) On-going treatment for BCRL creates challenges for work; 3) Environmental factors affect the work experience; and 4) Personal factors play a key role in adjusting to return-to-work. The findings shared considerable agreement with ICF model and suggested new perspectives towards understanding the model. This study suggests implications for BCRL education, clinical practice, health policy, and research.

scholarly journals Prevalence of Arm Lymphedema among Patients with Breast Cancer Surgery

2016 ◽  
Vol 12 (3) ◽  
pp. 111-117
Author(s):  
Radha Acharya Pandey ◽  
Shilpa Shrestha
Keyword(s):  
Breast Cancer ◽  
Breast Cancer Survivors ◽  
Radical Mastectomy ◽  
Cancer Therapeutics ◽  
Structured Interview ◽  
Cancer Surgery ◽  
Breast Cancer Surgery ◽  
Related Factors ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Arm Lymphedema

Background & Objectives: Lymphedema is a common complication of cancer therapeutics; its prevalence, treatment outcomes, and costs have been poorly defined. It is potentially debilitating condition in breast cancer survivors which negatively affects the quality of life. This study aims to assess the prevalence of arm lymphedema among patients with breast cancer surgery.Materials & Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted to assess the prevalence of arm lymphedema among the women with breast cancer surgery. Purposive sampling technique was used to collect the data from a sample of 66 women of selected hospitals.  Data were collected through self constructed structured and semi structured interview based questionnaire which consisted socio demographic information and clinical related factors. Results: Among The overall prevalence of arm lymphedema was found to be seven (10.6%) respondents among the study population. In this study, 41 (62.1%) respondents were < 50 years of age, 13 (19.7%) had education of secondary level, 27 (40.9%) had received radiation therapy, 63 (95.5%) had no history of infection, 54 (81.8%) had undergone modified radical mastectomy, and 56 (84.8%) had involved lymph node resection. Statistically no any significant association was found between these variables.Conclusion: On the basis of the findings, this conclusion has been drawn that prevalence of arm lymphedema among patients with breast cancer surgery was low (10.6%). Moreover no association was found between the prevalence of arm lymphedema, sociodemographic variables and clinical related factors.

scholarly journals Assessment of Potential Risk Factors and Skin Ultrasound Presentation Associated with Breast Cancer-Related Lymphedema in Long-Term Breast Cancer Survivors

Diagnostics ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (8) ◽  
pp. 1303
Author(s):  
Khairunnisa’ Md Yusof ◽  
Kelly A. Avery-Kiejda ◽  
Shafinah Ahmad Suhaimi ◽  
Najwa Ahmad Zamri ◽  
Muhammad Ehsan Fitri Rusli ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Breast Cancer ◽  
Risk Factors ◽  
Cancer Survivors ◽  
Potential Risk ◽  
Breast Cancer Survivors ◽  
Ultrasound Examination ◽  
Arm Circumference ◽  
Potential Risk Factors ◽  
Breast Cancer Related Lymphedema

Breast cancer has been reported to have the highest survival rate among various cancers. However, breast cancer survivors face several challenges following breast cancer treatment including breast cancer-related lymphedema (BCRL), sexual dysfunction, and psychological distress. This study aimed to investigate the potential risk factors of BCRL in long term breast cancer survivors. A total of 160 female breast cancer subjects were recruited on a voluntary basis and arm lymphedema was assessed through self-reporting of diagnosis, arm circumference measurement, and ultrasound examination. A total of 33/160 or 20.5% of the women developed BCRL with significantly higher scores for upper extremity disability (37.14 ± 18.90 vs. 20.08 ± 15.29, p < 0.001) and a lower score for quality of life (103.91 ± 21.80 vs. 115.49 ± 16.80, p = 0.009) as compared to non-lymphedema cases. Univariate analysis revealed that multiple surgeries (OR = 5.70, 95% CI: 1.21–26.8, p < 0.001), axillary lymph nodes excision (>10) (OR = 2.83, 95% CI: 0.94–8.11, p = 0.047), being overweight (≥25 kg/m2) (OR = 2.57, 95% CI: 1.04 – 6.38, p = 0.036), received fewer post-surgery rehabilitation treatment (OR = 2.37, 95% CI: 1.05–5.39, p = 0.036) and hypertension (OR = 2.38, 95% CI: 1.01–5.62, p = 0.043) were associated with an increased risk of BCRL. Meanwhile, multivariate analysis showed that multiple surgeries remained significant and elevated the likelihood of BCRL (OR = 5.83, 95% CI: 1.14–29.78, p = 0.034). Arm swelling was more prominent in the forearm area demonstrated by the highest difference of arm circumference measurement when compared to the upper arm (2.07 ± 2.48 vs. 1.34 ± 1.91 cm, p < 0.001). The total of skinfold thickness of the affected forearm was also significantly higher than the unaffected arms (p < 0.05) as evidenced by the ultrasound examination. The continuous search for risk factors in specific populations may facilitate the development of a standardized method to reduce the occurrence of BCRL and provide better management for breast cancer patients.

scholarly journals Breast cancer patients’ return to work (B-CARE): protocol of a longitudinal mixed-methods study aiming to explore medical and occupational rehabilitation of patients with breast cancer in Germany

BMJ Open ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (12) ◽  
pp. e033533
Author(s):  
Kati Hiltrop ◽  
Paula Heidkamp ◽  
Christoph Kowalski ◽  
Nicole Ernstmann
Keyword(s):  
Breast Cancer ◽  
Mixed Methods ◽  
Return To Work ◽  
Cancer Survivors ◽  
Breast Cancer Survivors ◽  
Occupational Rehabilitation ◽  
Medical Rehabilitation ◽  
Insurance Scheme ◽  
Pension Insurance ◽  
Care Protocol

IntroductionIn recent years, research has been done on determinants of return to work (RTW) in cancer survivors and their long-term work outcomes. Nevertheless, little is known about the survivors’ evaluation of these outcomes in terms of job satisfaction and voluntariness. Hence, B-CARE aims at filling the research gap by providing a longitudinal cohort study investigating medical and occupational rehabilitation including an evaluation by breast cancer survivors.Methods and analysisA mixed-methods approach, combining a quantitative survey with qualitative semi-structured interviews, is used to study breast cancer survivors 5–6 years after diagnosis. These data will be linked to data from prior waves of patients during hospitalisation and 10 and 40 weeks after hospital discharge as well as routine data from the German Statutory Pension Insurance Scheme and German Cancer Society if available. The actual survey focuses on determinants of medical rehabilitation use, RTW, subsequent employment patterns post care as well as the voluntariness of and satisfaction with job changes.Ethics and disseminationA positive vote from the ethics committee of the Medical Faculty of the University of Bonn has been obtained. Data protection regulations will be adhered to for all handled data. Personal identifiers of participants will be pseudonymised. Dissemination strategies include a workshop to discuss results among stakeholders such as representatives of the German Statutory Pension Insurance Scheme, social workers and self-help groups.Trial registration numberGerman Clinical Trials Register (DRKS00016982); Pre-results.

scholarly journals Sodium Selenite Alleviates Breast Cancer-Related Lymphedema Independent of Antioxidant Defense System

Nutrients ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 11 (5) ◽  
pp. 1021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hye Won Han ◽  
Eun Joo Yang ◽  
Seung-Min Lee
Keyword(s):  
Breast Cancer ◽  
Sodium Selenite ◽  
Controlled Trial ◽  
Clinical Stage ◽  
Antioxidant Properties ◽  
Breast Cancer Surgery ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Blood Levels ◽  
Breast Cancer Related Lymphedema

Long-term surveillance is necessary to identify patients at risk of developing secondary lymphedema after breast cancer surgery. We assessed how sodium selenite supplementation would affect breast cancer-related lymphedema (BCRL) symptoms and parameters in association with antioxidant effects. A randomized, double-blind, controlled trial was conducted on 26 participants with clinical stage II to III BCRL. The control group (CTRL, n = 12) and selenium group (SE, n = 14) underwent five sessions of 0.9% saline and 500 μg sodium selenite (Selenase®) IV injections, respectively, within 2 weeks. All patients were educated on recommended behavior and self-administered manual lymphatic drainage. Clinical diagnosis on lymphedema by physicians, bioimpedance data, blood levels of oxidative markers, including glutathione (GSH), glutathione disulfide (GSSG), malondialdehyde (MDA), glutathione peroxidase activity (GSH-Px), and serum oxygen radical absorbance capacity (ORAC) levels, were investigated at timelines defined as baseline, 2-week, and follow-up. Sodium selenite increased whole blood selenium concentration in the SE group. Compared to the baseline, at 2 weeks, 75.0% of participants in clinical stage showed improvement, while there was no change in the CTRL group. At follow-up, 83.3% and 10.0% of the SE and CTRL, respectively, showed stage changes from III to II (p = 0.002). Extracellular water (ECW) ratios were significantly reduced at 2 weeks and follow-up, only in the SE group. Blood GSH, GSSG, GSH/GSSG ratio, MDA, and ORAC levels did not change by selenium supplementation. Sodium selenite improved diagnostic stages of BCRL along with ECW ratios, although the beneficial effect might not be related to its antioxidant activity. Selenite’s effect on lymphedema may be associated with non-antioxidant properties, such as anti-inflammation and immune function. Further mechanistic research using a larger population is needed.

scholarly journals Changes in employment status, barriers to, and facilitators of (return to) work in breast cancer survivors 5–10 years after diagnosis

2019 ◽  
Vol 42 (21) ◽  
pp. 3052-3058 ◽  
Author(s):  
Pomme E. A. van Maarschalkerweerd ◽  
Michael Schaapveld ◽  
Carmen H. Paalman ◽  
Neil K. Aaronson ◽  
Saskia F. A. Duijts
Keyword(s):  
Breast Cancer ◽  
Return To Work ◽  
Cancer Survivors ◽  
Employment Status ◽  
Breast Cancer Survivors

Patient-reported pain and other symptoms among breast cancer survivors: prevalence and risk factors

2020 ◽  
Vol 106 (6) ◽  
pp. 480-490
Author(s):  
Michele Divella ◽  
Luigi Vetrugno ◽  
Serena Bertozzi ◽  
Luca Seriau ◽  
Carla Cedolini ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Breast Cancer ◽  
Risk Factors ◽  
Chronic Pain ◽  
Neuropathic Pain ◽  
Cancer Survivors ◽  
Breast Cancer Survivors ◽  
Breast Tissue ◽  
Shoulder Function ◽  
Breast Cancer Surgery ◽  
Patient Reported

Objective: To investigate the prevalence and risk factors associated with chronic pain and other symptoms related to breast cancer 6 months after surgery. Methods: In an observational study of 261 female breast cancer survivors treated between January 2017 and January 2018, patients were asked about their pain symptoms using a questionnaire that utilized the Numeric Rating Score (NRS) and the Douleur Neuropathique Score (DN4) for neuropathic pain; it also addressed phantom sensations and functional disorders on the ipsilateral shoulder. A total of 218 women completed the survey. Results: A total of 105 patients (48.17%) reported chronic pain. Of these, 64% rated the pain with an NRS of 1–3 and 35% with an NRS >3. Neuropathic pain was reported in 65% of the sample, phantom sensations in 12%, disorders of shoulder function in 16%, and web syndrome in 2%. Multivariable analyses showed that chronic pain (odds ratio [OR], 2.55; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.094–5.942; p < 0.05) and neuropathic pain (OR, 2.988; 95% CI, 1.366–6.537; p < 0.05) were positively associated with surgical adverse events; phantom sensations were statistically associated with the weight of removed breast tissue (OR, 1.003; 95% CI, 1.001–1.005; p < 0.05). Conclusions: Our study highlights the need to employ specific tools capable of detecting different kinds of chronic pain after breast cancer surgery to improve pain prevention and treatment. Surgical complications and the weight of removed breast tissue emerged as 2 of the risk factors for chronic and neuropathic pain development in breast cancer survivors.

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