PREVALENCE OF UPPER-BODY SYMPTOMS FOLLOWING BREAST CANCER AND ITS RELATIONSHIP WITH UPPER-BODY FUNCTION AND LYMPHEDEMA

Abstract

This investigation describes the prevalenceof upper-body symptoms in a population-basedsample of women with breast cancer (BC)and examines their relationships with upperbodyfunction (UBF) and lymphedema, as twoclinically important sequelae. Australianwomen (n=287) with unilateral BC wereassessed at three-monthly intervals, from sixto 18 months post-surgery (PS). Participantsreported the presence and intensity of upperbodysymptoms on the treated side. Objectiveand self-reported UBF and lymphedema(bioimpedance spectroscopy) were alsoassessed. Approximately 50% of womenreported at least one moderate-to-extremesymptom at 6- and at 18-months PS. Therewas a significant relationship betweensymptoms and function (p<0.01), wherebyperceived and objective function declined withincreasing number of symptoms present.Those with lymphedema were more likely toreport multiple symptoms, and presence ofsymptoms at baseline was associated with anincreased risk of lymphedema (ORs>1.3,p=0.02), although presence of symptomsexplained only 5.5% of the variation in theodds for lymphedema. Upper-body symptomsare common and persistent following breastcancer and are associated with clinicalramifications, including reduced UBF andincreased risk of developing lymphedema.However, using the presence of symptoms as adiagnostic indicator or prognosticator oflymphedema has its limitations.