TY - JOUR
T1 - Postlymphadenectomy complications and quality of life among breast cancer patients in Brazil
AU - Paim, Carolina Rodrigues
AU - De Paula Lima, Elenice Dias Ribeiro
AU - Fu, Mei R.
AU - De Paula Lima, Alexandre
AU - Cassali, Geovanni Dantas
PY - 2008/7
Y1 - 2008/7
N2 - This descriptive, cross-sectional, correlational study with a convenience sample of 96 women treated for breast cancer at an outpatient service in Brazil was designed to investigate postlymphadenectomy complications after axillary lymph node dissection (ALND) and sentinel lymph node biopsy and explore the associative relationships between the complications and quality of life. Clinical evaluations using perimetry, goniometry, and muscle strength test were used to evaluate the complications. Pain and quality of life were assessed by the Short-Form McGill Pain Questionnaire and the Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy-Breast. All participants had at least one complication. Incidence was higher for pain (57%), impaired shoulder strength (57%), and fibrosis (54%), followed by impaired shoulder range of motion (46%) and lymphedema (17%). The incidence of impaired shoulder flexion (P ≤ .01) and lymphedema (P ≤ .002) was higher in ALND group. Winged scapula (8.4%) only occurred in the ALND group. Quality of life was significantly correlated with pain (r ≤ ĝ̂'0.53, P ≤ .000) and impaired shoulder strength in flexion (r ≤ 0.4; P ≤ .000) and abduction (r ≤ ĝ̂'0.5, P ≤ .000). Future studies are needed to prospectively investigate the onset of the complications and identify appropriate interventions to promote quality of life in women treated for breast cancer.
AB - This descriptive, cross-sectional, correlational study with a convenience sample of 96 women treated for breast cancer at an outpatient service in Brazil was designed to investigate postlymphadenectomy complications after axillary lymph node dissection (ALND) and sentinel lymph node biopsy and explore the associative relationships between the complications and quality of life. Clinical evaluations using perimetry, goniometry, and muscle strength test were used to evaluate the complications. Pain and quality of life were assessed by the Short-Form McGill Pain Questionnaire and the Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy-Breast. All participants had at least one complication. Incidence was higher for pain (57%), impaired shoulder strength (57%), and fibrosis (54%), followed by impaired shoulder range of motion (46%) and lymphedema (17%). The incidence of impaired shoulder flexion (P ≤ .01) and lymphedema (P ≤ .002) was higher in ALND group. Winged scapula (8.4%) only occurred in the ALND group. Quality of life was significantly correlated with pain (r ≤ ĝ̂'0.53, P ≤ .000) and impaired shoulder strength in flexion (r ≤ 0.4; P ≤ .000) and abduction (r ≤ ĝ̂'0.5, P ≤ .000). Future studies are needed to prospectively investigate the onset of the complications and identify appropriate interventions to promote quality of life in women treated for breast cancer.
KW - Axillary lymph node dissection
KW - Breast cancer
KW - Complications
KW - Lymphadenectomy
KW - Lymphedema
KW - Pain
KW - Quality of life
KW - Sentinel lymph node biopsy
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=56049084936&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=56049084936&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1097/01.NCC.0000305747.49205.b1
DO - 10.1097/01.NCC.0000305747.49205.b1
M3 - Article
C2 - 18600117
AN - SCOPUS:56049084936
SN - 0162-220X
VL - 31
SP - 302
EP - 309
JO - Cancer Nursing
JF - Cancer Nursing
IS - 4
ER -