Comparisons of Physiological and Psychosocial Symptoms for Breast Cancer Patients with and without Lymphedema

Abstract

Purpose: The purpose of this study were to examine the incidence of lymphedema and to compare to physiological and psychosocial symptoms between breast cancer patients with lymphedema and without lymphedema.

Method: Four hundreds fifty women with breast cancer receiving mastectomy were recruited from two out-patient breast clinics of A and S university hospitals in Seoul, Korea from October, 2004 to May, 2005. Lymphedema was defined by circumferential measurement. Differences greater than 2cm between the affected arm and normal arm were considered to be lymphedema. A descriptive design was used for this study and data was collected using a structured questionnaire. The data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and independent t-test.

Results: Lymphedema developed in 112(24.9%) of the 450 subjects. Subjects with lymphedema reported more severe sensation change of arm and more depression and confusion than subjects without lymphedema. Range of motion of shoulder as a physical indicator and social support, however, were not significantly different between the two groups.

Conclusion: Lymphedema is recognized as an unpleasant and uncomfortable consequence of breast cancer- related treatment. Therefore, more research is needed to evaluate the impact of lymphedema on quality of life in patients with lymphedema and the efficacy of nursing intervention.