EFFECT OF COMPLEX DECONGESTIVE THERAPY ON EDEMA AND THE QUALITY OF LIFE IN BREAST CANCER PATIENTS WITH UNILATERAL LYMPHEDEMA

Abstract

There is increasing interest in the healthrelatedquality of life (QOL) of patients withchronic lymphedema. The aim of this studywas to ascertain whether complex decongestivetherapy (CDT) for upper limb lymphedemaresults in long-term changes in lymphedemaand QOL, and to determine whether thetreatment-induced change in the percentageexcess volume (PCEV) is correlated with anychanges in QOL. Fifty-three patients who hadlymphedema were treated with CDT. PCEVand QOL were recorded before and 1 monthafter CDT, and at a 6-month follow-up visit.PCEV was significantly (p<0.05) decreased at1 month, but significantly (p<0.05) increasedat 6 months compared to 1 month [but stillsignificantly reduced (p<0.05) from baseline].The QOL scores at 1 and 6 months weresignificantly higher than the score at baseline,indicating an improvement in the QOL.Significant changes were evident in the singledomains of physical functioning, role-physical,mental health, and general health. The changein PCEV was associated with a change inphysical functioning, vitality, bodily pain, andgeneral health at 1 and 6 months (p<0.05).This study suggests that QOL significantlyimproved with upper limb lymphedema duringthe maintenance phase, which was necessarilycorrelated with the reduction in limb volume.