Quality of life, upper extremity function and the effect of lymphedema treatment in breast cancer related lymphedema patients

Ji Eung Park, Hye Jin Jang, Kwan Sik Seo, Ji Eung Park, Hye Jin Jang, Kwan Sik Seo

Abstract

Objective: To evaluate quality of life (QOL), upper extremity function and the effect of lymphedema treatment in patients with breast cancer related lymphedema.

Method: The basic data comprised medical records (detailing age, sex, dominant side, location of tumor, cancer stage, operation record, cancer treatment and limb circumferences) and questionnaires (lymphedema duration, satisfaction, self-massage). Further to this, we measured upper extremity function and QOL, administered the DASH (Disabilities of Arm Shoulder and Hand outcome measure) and used the EORTC (European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer)-QLQ-C30 and the EORTC-QLQ-Br23. Results of these were calculated as main outcome variables.

Results: The questionnaire responses and arm circumferences of 59 patients with breast cancer related lymphedema were analyzed. In the DASH questionnaire, it was found that the older the lymphedema patient was, the lower their upper extremity function. On the EORTC-QLQ, patients with metastasis had significantly lower scores in physical functioning and role functioning. In terms of upper extremity circumference, there was a significant upper extremity size reduction after lymphedema treatment.

Conclusion: There were several dissociations between some subscales of quality of life questionnaires and those of upper extremity functions. Upper extremity function was correlated with the age of breast cancer patients and QOL was influenced by M-stage. Lymphedema treatment was found to be effective in reducing edema in patients with breast cancer related lymphedema.

Keywords: Breast cancer; Lymphedema; Quality of life; Upper extremity function.

References

    1. Warren AG, Brorson H, Borud LJ, Slavin SA. Lymphedema: a comprehensive review. Ann Plast Surg. 2007;59:464–472.
    1. Dawes DJ, Meterissian S, Goldberg M, Mayo NE. Impact of lymphoedema on arm function and health-related quality of life in women following breast cancer surgery. J Rehabil Med. 2008;40:651–658.
    1. Ko DS, Lerner R, Klose G, Cosimi AB. Effective treatment of lymphedema of the extremities. Arch Surg. 1998;133:452–458.
    1. Boris M, Weindorf S, Lasinski B, Boris G. Lymphedema reduction by noninvasive complex lymphedema therapy. Oncology (Williston Park) 1994;8:95–106.
    1. Casley-Smith JR. Modern treatment of lymphoedema. I. Complex physical therapy: the first 200 Australian limbs. Australas J Dermatol. 1992;33:61–68.
    1. Slovacek L, Slovackova B, Slanska I, Petera J, Priester P. Quality of life and depression among metastatic breast cancer patients. Med Oncol. 2010;27:958–959.
    1. Slovacek L, Slovackova B, Slanska I, Petera J, Priester P, Filip S, Kopecky J. Depression symptoms and health-related quality of life among patients with metastatic breast cancer in programme of palliative cancer care. Neoplasma. 2009;56:467–472.
    1. Northouse LL, Mood D, Kershaw T, Schafenacker A, Mellon S, Walker J, Galvin E, Decker V. Quality of life of women with recurrent breast cancer and their family members. J Clin Oncol. 2002;20:4050–4064.
    1. Kelly MH, Brillante B, Kushner H, Gehron Robey P, Collins MT. Physical function is impaired but quality of life preserved in patients with fibrous dysplasia of bone. Bone. 2005;37:388–394.
    1. Robbins RA, Simmons Z, Bremer BA, Walsh SM, Fischer S. Quality of life in ALS is maintained as physical function declines. Neurology. 2001;56:442–444.
    1. Bossier R. Physical function and health-related quality of life in culturally diverse elders: evidence of environmental press [dissertation] The Department of Kinesiology: Louisiana State University; 2005.

Source: PubMed

스폰서 및 공동 작업자

건강 상태

약물 개입

3
구독하다