SELF-REPORTED MANAGEMENT OF BREAST CANCER-RELATED LYMPHOEDEMA.
BACKGROUND: Improvements in breast cancer treatment and early diagnosis are leading to increasing numbers of breast cancer survivors, many of whom are experiencing upper limb lymphoedema as a post-treatment outcome. Current management techniques of breast cancer-related lymphoedema produce uneven results, signifying a need for research in this area.  AIMS: To assess the symptom management practices of breast cancer survivors experiencing cancer-related lymphoedema by identifying and quantifying self-care management practices.  METHODS: The Lymphoedema Breast Cancer Questionnaire (LBCQ) was given to 40 breast cancer survivors with either self- or medical diagnosis of upper limb lymphoedema ipsilateral to the breast treated for cancer.  RESULTS: Findings revealed three main themes: recommended management techniques, pharmaceutical treatments, and lay symptom management techniques. Further categorisation suggested that clusters of similar related symptoms (e.g. heaviness, aching, tenderness, and tightness/firmness) tend to be managed or not managed in similar ways.  CONCLUSIONS: Healthcare professionals need to recognise the scope and diversity of self-management practices that breast cancer survivors choose in managing their lymphoedema symptoms. A critical next step is the rigorous evaluation of the effectiveness of these self-management modalities.
Elise Radina is Assistant Professor of Family Studies, Family Studies and Social Work, Miami University; Jane Armer is Professor, Sinclair School of Nursing, University of Missouri-Columbia and Director of Nursing Research, Ellis Fischel Cancer Center; Debbie Daunt is Assistant Professor of Nursing, Dominican University of California; Julie Dusold, BS, MS, and Scott Culbertson, MD, were research assistants with the lymphedema research project at the University of Missouri-Columbia (Armer, PI) at the time of these analyses.
Elise
E
Radina
Jane
J
Armer
Debbie
D
Daunt
Julie
J
Dusold
Scott
S
Culbertson