LYMPHEDEMA OF THE OPERATED AND IRRADIATED BREAST IN BREAST CANCER PATIENTS FOLLOWING BREAST CONSERVING SURGERY AND RADIOTHERAPY

Abstract

The National Institutes of HealthConsensus Development Conference onTreatment of Early Stage Breast Cancer in1990 indicated that breast conserving surgerywith radiotherapy is the primary therapy forthe majority of women with early stage breastcancer. Despite good aesthetic results, aremarkable number of patients suffer fromlymphedema of the operated and irradiatedbreast.131 study participants scored 8 subjectivesymptoms of breast edema on a scale from 0to 10 and completed the EORTC QLQ-BR23questionnaire to assess the health relatedquality of life among breast cancer patients.Incidence of breast edema, up to 5 yearsfollowing surgery, was 75.5%. There was asignificant positive correlation between breastedema and body mass index. Breast edemaalso correlated significantly with chemotherapytreatment, anti-hormone therapy, age,and all aspects of quality of life, except sexualfunctioning, sexual enjoyment, and upset byhair loss. There were no significant differencesin breast edema related to the post- operativeperiod, the level of nodal dissection, preoperativebra cup size, tumor location andwhether the surgery was performed on thedominant side.Despite the benefits of breast conservingsurgery and radiotherapy, breast edema is acommon complication that lowers quality oflife significantly.