scholarly journals Quality of Life for Women with Breast Cancer-Related Lymphedema: The Importance of Collaboration between Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation and General Surgery Clinics

2021 ◽  
pp. 119-126
Author(s):  
Türkan Turgay ◽  
Pınar Günel Karadeniz ◽  
Göktürk Maralcan

Background: The aim of this study was to examine the clinical characteristics and quality of life (QOL) of patients with BCRL (breast cancer-related lymphedema).Methods: In this cross-sectional descriptive study, patients' characteristics such as age, body mass index (BMI: kg/m²), history of chemotherapy (CT), radiotherapy (RT), hormone replacement therapy (HRT), neoadjuvant therapy (NT), cancer stages, and types of surgery were recorded. Patients were evaluated using the ‘Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder and Hand questionnaire’ (DASH), the ‘Lymphedema Quality of Life Questionnaire’ (LYMQOL-ARM), and a visual analogue scale (VAS). Results: A total of 68 women with the mean age of 52.50±9.33 and BMI 29.240 ± 5.05 kg/m² were recruited after breast cancer surgery in this study: thirty-three patients (48.5%) in Stage 0; 24 (35.3%) in Stage 1; 10 (14.7%) in Stage 2; and 1 (1.5%) in Stage 3. No statistically significant difference was found in the QOL according to treatments received after the diagnosis of breast cancer surgery, RT (except the appearance domain of QOL), CT, HRT, or NT. In patients who had received axillary dissection in combination with RT, a statistically significant association was observed between QOL related to body image and symptoms (p=0.009 and p=0.017, respectively). A statistically significant difference was found only in body image and clinical symptom domains according to the lymphedema stage (p=0.027 and p=0.002, respectively). It was observed that as shoulder pain (VAS) and disability (DASH) scores increased, scores of all domains of QOL increased except the overall domain in QOL (p<0.05). Conclusion: It was observed that clinical symptoms and body image parameters in QOL were associated with the lymphedema stage and the number of lymph nodes dissected. It was concluded that axillary dissection with axillary RT and RT alone after breast cancer surgery is associated with body image. Our study revealed that body image perception is related to the quality of life in patients with BCRL. Optimal management of the negative effects of self-reported lymphedema evaluated in the latency phase on quality of life requires coordination between Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation and General Surgery Clinics.

2021 ◽  
Vol 7 (5) ◽  
pp. 1538-1544
Author(s):  
Xin Li ◽  
Hai-yan An ◽  
Yi Zhao ◽  
Mingli Ji ◽  
Jing An ◽  
...  

To study the effect of rapid rehabilitation nursing on patients’ quality of life and pain level during the perioperative period of radical breast cancer surgery. Methods: 126 patients who were hospitalized in our hospital from January 2018 to February 2020 and underwent radical breast cancer surgery were divided into control group and rapid rehabilitation group according to the perioperative period intervention method. Routine nursing intervention and rapid rehabilitation nursing intervention were used respectively. The general conditions of the two groups were recorded, and the differences of T cell subsets before operation and 3 days after operation were detected. Visual analogue pain (VAS) score was used to evaluate the changes of pain degree at 1 day, 3 days and 5 days after operation and on the day of discharge. Postoperative complications and satisfaction were compared between the two groups. Quality of life (QOL) was assessed at 1 month and 3 months after operation using the CARES-SF score. Results: Anesthesia waking time (26.12 ± 5.77) min, off-bed activity time (14.25 ± 2.87) h and hospital stay (7.82 ± 2.15) d in the rapid rehabilitation group were shorter than those in the control group (P < 0.05). The operation time (92.02 ± 14.78) min and intraoperative blood loss (57.96 ± 13.96) mL in the rapid rehabilitation group were not significantly different from those in the control group (P > 0.05). In the control group, 3d after operation, T lymphocyte subsets were decreased gradually than that before operation (P < 0.05), CD3+ was decreased 3d after operation than that before operation in the rapid rehabilitation group (P < 0.05), but CD4+, CD8+, CD4+ / CD8 + 3d after operation had no significant difference than that before operation (P > 0.05). In rapid rehabilitation group, T lymphocyte subsets at 3d after operation were higher than those in the control group (P < 0.05). The postoperative complication rate of the rapid rehabilitation group was lower than that of the control group, and the satisfaction degree was higher than that of the control group, with significant difference (P < 0.05). After follow-up, it was found that the scores of qualities of life, such as physiology, psychosocial, marriage, sexual life and relationship with medical staff in the rapid rehabilitation group were lower than those in the control group at 1 month and 3 months after operation (P < 0.05). Conclusion: The concept of rapid rehabilitation nursing can stabilize the immune function of patients after radical breast cancer surgery, promote the postoperative rehabilitation and improve the quality of life after operation.


Author(s):  
Havva Bozdemir ◽  
Dilek Aygin

Abstract Objective: The aim of this study the effect of the education given according to daily living activities (DLA) model on arm dysfunction, lymphedema and quality of life in patients undergoing breast cancer surgery. Interventions/Methods: In the design of the research, a randomized controlled experimental model with recurrent measurement was used. The data were collected from 60 patients (control group: 30, Intervention Group: 30) at a teriary hospital. In Research ,Patient Information Form, SPOFIA, KATZ-DLA indeks, arm, shoulder and hand injuries scale (DASH) and quality of life scale short form (SF-36) were used. Three interviews (1st week, 1st and 3rd month) were performed after surgery with patients. Analysis of data; independent T-Test, Chi-squared and Repeated Measures ANOVA were utilized. Results: SPOFIA, DASH and KATZ, GYA scale averages decreased by the time, SF-36 were found to increase the average score. In the intervention group, the measurements of the upper arm circumference are significantly better than the control group and In terms of SPOFIA3, DASH2 and DASH3 scale averages, there is a statistically significant difference between the groups (P < 0.05). Conclusions: KATZ, SPOFIA, SF-36, DASH scale score averages were recovered as the time elapsed after the operation increased. Intervention group was found to recover more early. Implications for Practice: The education programme is effective in the prevention of arm dysfunction and lymphedema and in improving quality of life. Keywords: Breast cancer, lymphedema, daily life activity model, quality of life, Continuous...


2018 ◽  
Vol 50 ◽  
pp. 33-37 ◽  
Author(s):  
Seon-Young Kim ◽  
Sung-Wan Kim ◽  
Il-Seon Shin ◽  
Min-Ho Park ◽  
Jung-Han Yoon ◽  
...  

Author(s):  
Jeanne Massingill, LMT, MLD, CST, KT, NMT ◽  
Cara Jorgensen, LMT ◽  
Jacqueline Dolata, MBA ◽  
Ashwini R. Sehgal, MD

Background: Chronic localized pain and decreased upper extremity mobility commonly occur following breast cancer surgery and may persist despite use of pain medication and physical therapy.Purpose: We sought to determine the value of myofascial massage to address these pain and mobility limitations.Setting: The study took place at a clinical massage spa in the U.S. Midwest. The research was overseen by MetroHealth Medical Center’s Institutional Review Board and Case Center for Reducing Health Disparities research staff.Participants: 21 women with persistent pain and mobility limitations 3–18 months following breast surgery.Research Design: We conducted a pilot randomized controlled trial where intervention patients received myofascial massages and control patients received relaxation massages.Intervention: Intervention participants received 16 myofascial massage sessions over eight weeks that focused on the affected breast, chest, and shoulder areas. Control participants received 16 relaxation massage sessions over eight weeks that avoided the affected breast, chest, and shoulder areas. Participants completed a validated questionnaire at the beginning and end of the study that asked about pain, mobility, and quality of life.Main Outcome Measures: Outcome measures include change in self-reported pain, self-reported mobility, and three quality-of-life questions.Results: At baseline, intervention and control participants were similar in demographic and medical characteristics, pain and mobility ratings, and quality of life. Compared to control participants, intervention participants had more favorable changes in pain (-10.7 vs. +0.4, p < .001), mobility (-14.5 vs. -0.8, p < .001), and general health (+29.5 vs. -2.5, p = .002) after eight weeks. All intervention and control participants reported that receiving massage treatments was a positive experience.Conclusions: Myofascial massage is a promising treatment to address chronic pain and mobility limitations following breast cancer surgery. Further work in several areas is needed to confirm and expand on our study findings.


2019 ◽  
Vol 29 (3) ◽  
pp. 683-692
Author(s):  
K. V. Deepa ◽  
A. Gadgil ◽  
Jenny Löfgren ◽  
S. Mehare ◽  
Prashant Bhandarkar ◽  
...  

Abstract Purpose Breast cancer is the commonest cancer in women worldwide. Surgery is a central part of the treatment. Modified radical mastectomy (MRM) is often replaced by breast conserving therapy (BCT) in high-income countries. MRM is still the standard choice, in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) as radiotherapy, a mandatory component of BCT is not widely available. It is important to understand whether quality of life (QOL) after MRM is comparable to that after BCT. This has not been studied well in LMICs. We present, 5-year follow-up of QOL scores in breast cancer patients from India. Methods We interviewed women undergoing breast cancer surgery preoperatively, at 6 months after surgery, and at 1 year and 5 years, postoperatively. QOL scores were evaluated using FACT B questionnaire. Average QOL scores of women undergoing BCT were compared with those undergoing MRM. Total scores, domain scores and trends of scores over time were analyzed. Results We interviewed 54 women with a mean age of 53 years (SD 9 ± years). QOL scores in all the women, dipped during the treatment period, in all subscales but improved thereafter and even surpassed the baseline in physical, emotional and breast-specific domains (p < 0.05) at 5 years. At the end of 5 years, there was no statistically significant difference between the MRM and BCT groups in any of the total or domain scores. Conclusion QOL scores in Indian women did not differ significantly between MRM and BCT in the long term. Both options are acceptable in the study setting.


Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document