title: Lymphedema: experience of a cohort of women with breast cancer followed for 4 years after diagnosis in Victoria, Australia.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this work was to study the incidence and prevalence of self-reported lymphedema in breast cancer survivors between 2 and 4 years following diagnosis, the factors associated with the development of lymphedema and the impact of lymphedema on psychological well-being.
  
  
  METHODS
  We assessed self-reported lymphedema in the BUPA Health Foundation Health and Wellbeing After Breast Cancer Study, a questionnaire-based study of 1,683 women newly diagnosed with their first episode of invasive breast cancer in Victoria, Australia. Psychological well-being was assessed using the Psychological General Well-being Index.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Two years after diagnosis, nearly 20 % of women reported lymphedema and this proportion remained above 18 % 2 years later. However, self-reported lymphedema was a dynamic phenomenon, with the condition resolving in some women and others reporting onset for the first time up to 4 years from diagnosis. Lymphedema 2 years from diagnosis was positively associated with the number of nodes removed at initial surgery, although this variable only explained a small proportion of the likelihood of reporting lymphedema. The presence of lymphedema was associated with lower psychological general well-being.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Lymphedema after breast cancer treatment frequently has a dynamic pattern and may emerge as an issue for women several years after their initial treatment. It is associated with a lower level of general well-being.
authors: Women's Health Program, School of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Monash University, 99 Commercial Road, Melbourne, Victoria 3004, Australia. robin.bell@monash.edu
authors: Robin J
authors: RJ
authors: Bell
authors: Penelope J
authors: PJ
authors: Robinson
authors: Raychel
authors: R
authors: Barallon
authors: Pamela
authors: P
authors: Fradkin
authors: Max
authors: M
authors: Schwarz
authors: Susan R
authors: SR
authors: Davis
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001315:Australia; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000601:surgery; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008209:Lymphedema / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D017741:Survivors; D014739:Victoria / Q000453:epidemiology