title: Life after breast cancer: dealing with lymphoedema.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  In recent years, breast cancer (BC) mortality rates have declined, reflecting advances in early detection. Prevention and management of treatment sequelae that could impair function or quality of life have increased in relevance. Lymphoedema after BC treatment is one of these sequelae. It is caused by an acquired interruption or damage to the axillary lymphatic system and it is characterized by an abnormal accumulation of fluids and other substances in the tissue.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  We observed a group of patients with incidents of BC aiming to estimate the lymphoedema incidence, degree, time course, symptoms and treatment they received.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We evaluated 127 women. Median age was 58 years. 66% were postmenopausal. The median number of axillary nodes was 9. Over the first five years of follow-up we were informed about hand/arm swelling, thickness or tiredness by 37% of this group. The median of axillary nodes affected by metastatic cells in our patients with lymphoedema was 6. The symptoms they referred to us as the most relevant were heaviness (33%), tiredness (27%), jewelry or clothing too tight (25%), swelling and indentations (9%) and difficulty writing (6%). Several of them had psychological problems.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  We know of the relevance of lymphoedema in BC patients but its natural history and most effective therapies are poorly understood. Self-reported symptoms are relevant to promptly start therapy.
authors.affiliation: Medical Oncology Department, Clinical University Hospital of Valladolid, Spain.
authors.forename: Esther Uña
authors.initials: EU
authors.lastname: Cidón
authors.forename: Christian
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Perea
authors.forename: Francisco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: López-Lara