Development in self-reported arm-lymphedema in Danish women treated for early-stage breast cancer in 2005 and 2006 – A nationwide follow-up study

TY - JOUR

T1 - Development in self-reported arm-lymphedema in Danish women treated for early-stage breast cancer in 2005 and 2006 – A nationwide follow-up study

AU - Gärtner, Rune

AU - Mejdahl, Mathias Kvist

AU - Andersen, Kenneth Geving

AU - Ewertz, Marianne

AU - Kroman, Niels

N1 - Copyright © 2014 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

PY - 2014/8

Y1 - 2014/8

N2 - The main purpose of this nationwide follow-up study was to examine the development of self-reported lymphedema in the population of women with early-stage breast cancer in Denmark. In 2008 and 2012 two identical questionnaires were sent to the women aged 18-70 years treated for unilateral primary breast cancer in 2005 and 2006. 2293 women (87%) reported on lymphedema in 2008 and 2012. Overall 37% reported lymphedema in 2008 while 31% reported lymphedema in 2012 and severity of symptoms decreased. 50% of women treated with SLNB and reporting lymphedema in 2008 did not report symptoms by 2012 in contrast to 30% treated with ALND. However, 19% of women treated with ALND and not reporting lymphedema in 2008 had developed lymphedema by 2012. In conclusion lymphedema remains a frequent problem, years after treatment for breast cancer, though, number of women reporting lymphedema and overall severity of symptoms decreased.

AB - The main purpose of this nationwide follow-up study was to examine the development of self-reported lymphedema in the population of women with early-stage breast cancer in Denmark. In 2008 and 2012 two identical questionnaires were sent to the women aged 18-70 years treated for unilateral primary breast cancer in 2005 and 2006. 2293 women (87%) reported on lymphedema in 2008 and 2012. Overall 37% reported lymphedema in 2008 while 31% reported lymphedema in 2012 and severity of symptoms decreased. 50% of women treated with SLNB and reporting lymphedema in 2008 did not report symptoms by 2012 in contrast to 30% treated with ALND. However, 19% of women treated with ALND and not reporting lymphedema in 2008 had developed lymphedema by 2012. In conclusion lymphedema remains a frequent problem, years after treatment for breast cancer, though, number of women reporting lymphedema and overall severity of symptoms decreased.

KW - Adolescent

KW - Adult

KW - Aged

KW - Arm

KW - Breast Neoplasms

KW - Chemotherapy, Adjuvant

KW - Denmark

KW - Female

KW - Follow-Up Studies

KW - Humans

KW - Lymph Node Excision

KW - Lymphedema

KW - Mastectomy

KW - Mastectomy, Segmental

KW - Middle Aged

KW - Neoplasm Staging

KW - Prevalence

KW - Radiotherapy, Adjuvant

KW - Self Report

KW - Sentinel Lymph Node Biopsy

KW - Severity of Illness Index

KW - Statistics as Topic

KW - Young Adult

U2 - 10.1016/j.breast.2014.03.001

DO - 10.1016/j.breast.2014.03.001

M3 - Journal article

C2 - 24721743

SN - 0960-9776

VL - 23

SP - 445

EP - 452

JO - Breast (Edinburgh, Scotland)

JF - Breast (Edinburgh, Scotland)

IS - 4

ER -