Development in self-reported arm-lymphedema in Danish women treated for early-stage breast cancer in 2005 and 2006--a nationwide follow-up study.
The main purpose of this nationwide follow-up study was to examine the development of self-reported lymphedema in the population of women with early-stage breast cancer in Denmark. In 2008 and 2012 two identical questionnaires were sent to the women aged 18-70 years treated for unilateral primary breast cancer in 2005 and 2006. 2293 women (87%) reported on lymphedema in 2008 and 2012. Overall 37% reported lymphedema in 2008 while 31% reported lymphedema in 2012 and severity of symptoms decreased. 50% of women treated with SLNB and reporting lymphedema in 2008 did not report symptoms by 2012 in contrast to 30% treated with ALND. However, 19% of women treated with ALND and not reporting lymphedema in 2008 had developed lymphedema by 2012. In conclusion lymphedema remains a frequent problem, years after treatment for breast cancer, though, number of women reporting lymphedema and overall severity of symptoms decreased.
Section for Surgical Pathophysiology, Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen University, Denmark. Electronic address: runegartner@gmail.com.
Rune
R
Gärtner
Section for Surgical Pathophysiology, Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen University, Denmark. Electronic address: mathias.kvist.mejdahl@rh.regionh.dk.
Mathias Kvist
MK
Mejdahl
Section for Surgical Pathophysiology, Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen University, Denmark. Electronic address: kenneth.geving.andersen@rh.regionh.dk.
Kenneth Geving
KG
Andersen
Department of Oncology, Odense University Hospital, Institute of Clinical Research, University of Southern Denmark, Denmark. Electronic address: marianne.ewertz@ouh.regionsyddanmark.dk.
Marianne
M
Ewertz
Department of Breast Surgery, Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen University, Denmark. Electronic address: niels.kroman@rh.regionh.dk.
Niels
N
Kroman
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001132:Arm; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy*; D017024:Chemotherapy, Adjuvant; D003718:Denmark / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008197:Lymph Node Excision; D008209:Lymphedema / Q000453:epidemiology*; D008408:Mastectomy; D015412:Mastectomy, Segmental; D008875:Middle Aged; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D015995:Prevalence; D018714:Radiotherapy, Adjuvant; D057566:Self Report; D021701:Sentinel Lymph Node Biopsy; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D013223:Statistics as Topic; D055815:Young Adult
Associated factors; Breast cancer; Development; Lymphedema; Prevalence