Scientific PapersQuality of life of breast cancer patients with lymphedema
Section snippets
Determining the frequency of lymphedema
The Department of Surgery at Henry Ford Hospital maintains a Breast Cancer Registry of all patients diagnosed with breast cancer. All data are prospectively entered into the Registry upon first consultation and then at each follow-up. Data collected include demographic data, pertinent family and medical history, all surgical procedures, pathology, all treatments, and early postoperative and late complications. Shoulder dysfunction, arm lymphedema, and arm, shoulder, and chest wall pain are all
Frequency of Post-ALND lymphedema
A total of 827 patients with breast cancer were identified as undergoing ALND as part of their treatment. In all of these patients, the ALND was done either simultaneously with lumpectomy or mastectomy, or subsequently after biopsy. In 68 patients (8.3%), clinically apparent lymphedema developed sometime during the course of their follow-up.
Demographics of quality of life study group
A total of 101 patients were studied. The -ALND group consisted of 45 patients, with an average age of 55.2 ± 13.8 years. The -LE group consisted of 45
Comments
In the modern treatment of breast cancer, the quality of life of survivors is as almost an important an issue as survival. Recently, a plethora of studies has been published on this subject. Many have identified significant impairments in emotional, psychological, social, sexual, and physical well being. For example, Ganz et al4 identified frequent problems associated with physical and recreational activities, body image, sexual interest, sexual function, and problems with dating for those who
References (23)
Sexual functioning after breast cancera conceptual framework for future studies
Ann Oncol
(1997)- et al.
A comparative study of post-operative psychosocial function in women with primary operable breast cancer randomized to breast conservation therapy or mastectomy
Eur J Surg Oncol
(1997) Quality of life and breast cancer survivors. Psychosocial and treatment issues
Cancer Pract
(1997)Psychosocial outcomes of breast-conserving surgery versus mastectomya meta-analytic review
Health Psychol
(1997)- et al.
Breast cancer survivorspsychosocial concerns and quality of life
Breast Cancer Treat Res
(1996) - et al.
Functional outcomes in postmastectomy breast reconstructionpreliminary results of the Michigan Breast Reconstruction Outcomes Study
Surg Forum
(1997) Long-range effect of clinical trial interventions on quality of life
Cancer
(1994)The need to reexamine axillary lymph node dissection in invasive breast cancer
Cancer
(1994)- et al.
Lymphedema in the postmastectomy patient
- et al.
Improved axillary staging of breast cancer with sentinel lymphadenectomy
Ann Surg
(1995)