QUALITY OF LIFE AND LYMPHEDEMA FOLLOWING BREAST CANCER

Abstract

The aim of the study was to compareQuality of Life (QOL) of breast cancerpatients with and without secondarylymphedema (SLE) using a cross-sectionaldesign with a convenience sample. Researchpackets were mailed to 2088 breast cancerpatients (BrCaPt). The QOL component ofthe study used the Quality of Life Instrument- Breast Cancer Patient Version for datacollection. The sample (n = 537) was 12.9%African-American/Hispanic/Other (AA) and87.1% European-American (EA). Onehundred and twenty-two women (22.7%)reported SLE. Overall and subscale meanswere computed and ANOVA was determinedfor seven variables: age, marital status,educational level, race, type of surgery, timesince diagnosis, and SLE. Women withoutSLE had a higher overall mean QOL scorecompared to women with SLE (p=0.02).Women with a greater than high schooleducation had a higher mean QOL scorecompared to women with high school or lesseducation (p=0.05). SLE patients had poorerQOL in the physical (p<0.001), and social(p=0.004) subscales. Older women had ahigher overall QOL compared to youngerwomen (p<0.001). These results provideinsight into the impact of SLE on women’sQOL and pinpoint that physical and socialwell being are negatively influenced by SLE.