title: Upper extremity lymphedema: presence and effect on functioning five years after breast cancer treatment.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Our goal was to explore the effects of lymphedema on long-term adjustment among breast cancer survivors, in terms of functioning in important life environments.
  
  
  METHODS
  Limb volume measurements and psychosocial survey data were collected from women shortly after undergoing surgical intervention for breast cancer and annually thereafter. A subset of these women were selected for the current study because they had preoperative limb volume measurement data, which is best suited to determine presence and severity of lymphedema. Our final sample of 61 women had both the arm measurements (preoperative and 5-year) and survey data (baseline and 5-year) needed for this study, which comprises a secondary cross-sectional analysis of longitudinal data. A correlational approach was used to explore associations among lymphedema (presence, severity, and whether the participant met the criteria for lymphedema at any assessment point since their treatment for breast cancer) and outcome variables (physical functioning, vocational functioning, social functioning, domestic functioning, and sexual functioning).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Each of the three measures of lymphedema was significantly correlated with domestic functioning, but not with functioning in other common environments.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Long-term breast cancer survivors are at risk for developing secondary conditions, such as lymphedema, to which they must learn to adjust and adapt. Lymphedema may increase risk for compromised functioning in everyday environments, a problem which lies at the heart of rehabilitation. Breast cancer survivorship, therefore, fits well within the scope of a rehabilitation framework.
authors.affiliation: Department of Health Psychology, University of Missouri.
authors.forename: Cheryl L
authors.initials: CL
authors.lastname: Shigaki
authors.forename: Richard
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Madsen
authors.forename: Ausanee
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Wanchai
authors.forename: Bob R
authors.initials: BR
authors.lastname: Stewart
authors.forename: Jane M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Armer
mesh_terms: D000223:Adaptation, Psychological / Q000502:physiology*; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001132:Arm; D001294:Attitude to Health; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000523:psychology* / Q000534:rehabilitation / Q000601:surgery; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008209:Lymphedema / Q000209:etiology / Q000523:psychology* / Q000534:rehabilitation; D008875:Middle Aged; D011788:Quality of Life / Q000523:psychology*; D013514:Surgical Procedures, Operative / Q000009:adverse effects; D017741:Survivors / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data