Disability and health-related quality of life after breast cancer surgery: relation to impairments.
BACKGROUND
The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of impairments relevant to upper extremity following breast cancer surgery and its impact on disability and health-related quality of life.


METHODS
Sixty-seven female patients being treated with modified radical mastectomy or breast conserving surgery were included. They were evaluated for impairments (arm edema, loss of handgrip strength, limited shoulder joint range of motion, and pain), physical disability using the disabilities of the arm, shoulder, and hand (DASH) questionnaire, and for health related quality of life by means of the functional assessment of cancer therapy-breast+4 (FACT-B+4).


RESULTS
The most common impairment observed was arm pain on motion; the cause of 20% variance in disability score (r = 0.203, P = 0.000). Arm pain on motion, anterior chest wall pain, loss of grip strength, and shoulder flexion were significant factors in different domains of quality of life according to the FACT-B+4 questionnaire.


CONCLUSIONS
Pain relief should be the priority of treatment along with the prevention of joint movement restriction to ensure a sufficient quality of life for surgically treated breast cancer patients.
Kaya
Taciser
T
Departments of Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation and 3rd General Surgery, Izmir Bozyaka Training and Research Hospital, Izmir, Turkey. taciserkaya@gmail.com
Karatepe
Altnay Göksel
AG
Günaydn
Rezzan
R
Yetiş
Halit
H
Uslu
Adam
A
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001132:Arm; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery*; D004185:Disability Evaluation; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008408:Mastectomy / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D008875:Middle Aged; D018908:Muscle Weakness / Q000209:etiology; D010146:Pain / Q000209:etiology*; D010147:Pain Measurement; D011788:Quality of Life; D016059:Range of Motion, Articular