title: Sickness absence in relation to breast and arm symptoms shortly after breast cancer surgery.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine whether and, to what extent, breast and arm symptoms are associated with sick leave (SL) shortly after breast cancer (BC) surgery, and to investigate the associations of these symptoms and different surgical procedures with SL, adjusting for age and work posture. Women (n = 511), aged 26-63 years, who worked ≥ 75% before a BC diagnosis, were included within 12 weeks of surgery.
  
  
  RESULTS
  31% reported breast symptoms and 22% arm symptoms; and, of these, 47% reported both. Having strenuous work postures increased the OR for being on SL most (OR 2.60), followed by breast symptoms (OR 2.40), more extensive axillary (OR 2.24) or breast surgery (OR 2.13), and arm symptoms (OR 2.06).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Breast and arm symptoms are as strongly associated with being on SL as types of breast and/or axillary surgery. Early self-reported symptoms are important to consider in guidelines for SL and rehabilitation after BC surgery.
authors: Division of Insurance Medicine, Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden; Sophiahemmet University, Stockholm, Sweden. Electronic address: agneta.wennman-larsen@ki.se.
authors: Agneta
authors: A
authors: Wennman-Larsen
authors: Kristina
authors: K
authors: Alexanderson
authors: Mariann
authors: M
authors: Olsson
authors: Marie I
authors: MI
authors: Nilsson
authors: Lena-Marie
authors: LM
authors: Petersson
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001132:Arm; D001365:Axilla; D001940:Breast; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery*; D004487:Edema / Q000209:etiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006941:Hyperesthesia / Q000209:etiology; D017770:Lifting; D008197:Lymph Node Excision / Q000009:adverse effects*; D015409:Mastectomy, Radical / Q000009:adverse effects*; D015412:Mastectomy, Segmental / Q000009:adverse effects*; D008875:Middle Aged; D018908:Muscle Weakness / Q000209:etiology; D016272:Occupational Health; D010149:Postoperative Pain / Q000209:etiology; D011187:Posture; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012086:Reoperation / Q000009:adverse effects; D021701:Sentinel Lymph Node Biopsy / Q000009:adverse effects; D012782:Shoulder; D018582:Sick Leave / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D013997:Time Factors
keywords: Breast and arm symptoms; Breast cancer; Breast cancer surgery; Oncology; Sick leave; Work