title: Patient characteristics and treatments associated with a decline in upper-body function following breast cancer therapy.
abstract: Breast cancer therapy is often followed by a decline in upper-body function. Women (303) diagnosed with stage I or II breast cancer were interviewed 5 and 21 months after surgery and their medical records were reviewed. Women with cardiopulmonary comorbidity had an odds ratio for decline at the 5-month interview of 2.8 (95% CI 1.3-5. 7), relative to women without. Women who received mastectomy (OR = 2. 5; 95% CI 0.9-6.7) or breast-conserving surgery with radiation therapy (OR = 2.9; 95% CI 1.0-8.9) were at higher risk for decline at the 5-month interview than women who received only breast-conserving surgery. Women who had axillary dissection were more likely to report numbness or pain in the axilla (OR = 6.4; 95% CI 1.2-33) at the 21-month interview than women who did not. Clinicians should consider the functional consequences of treatment when discussing treatment options and postoperative care with women who have early stage breast cancer.
authors.affiliation: Boston University School of Public Health, Boston, MA 02118, USA. tlash@bu.edu
authors.forename: T L
authors.initials: TL
authors.lastname: Lash
authors.forename: R A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Silliman
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D001132:Arm / Q000503:physiopathology*; D001365:Axilla / Q000601:surgery; D015992:Body Mass Index; D001900:Boston / Q000453:epidemiology; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology / Q000532:radiotherapy / Q000601:surgery*; D015897:Comorbidity; D003625:Data Collection; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008408:Mastectomy; D008875:Middle Aged; D018908:Muscle Weakness / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology*; D009361:Neoplasm Invasiveness; D010149:Postoperative Pain / Q000453:epidemiology; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology*