| Item type: | Article | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Journal or Publication Title: | Breast Cancer Research and Treatment | ||||
| Publisher: | SPRINGER | ||||
| Place of Publication: | NEW YORK | ||||
| Volume: | 100 | ||||
| Number of Issue or Book Chapter: | 3 | ||||
| Page Range: | pp. 285-292 | ||||
| Date: | 2006 | ||||
| Institutions: | Medicine > Zentren des Universitätsklinikums Regensburg > Zentrum für Klinische Studien Medicine > Zentren des Universitätsklinikums Regensburg > Tumorzentrum e.V. Medicine > Institut für Epidemiologie und Präventivmedizin > Tumorzentrum e.V. | ||||
| Identification Number: |
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| Keywords: | QUALITY-OF-LIFE; INTERNATIONAL CONSENSUS PANEL; PSYCHOLOGICAL MORBIDITY; EUROPEAN-ORGANIZATION; DECISION-ANALYSIS; CLINICAL-TRIALS; TUMOR SIZE; CARCINOMA; SURVIVAL; RISK; quality of life; arm functioning; late side effects; primary breast cancer; axillary lymph node dissection; cohort study | ||||
| Dewey Decimal Classification: | 600 Technology > 610 Medical sciences Medicine | ||||
| Status: | Published | ||||
| Refereed: | Yes, this version has been refereed | ||||
| Created at the University of Regensburg: | Yes | ||||
| Item ID: | 69617 |
Web of ScienceAbstract
Objectives Improvements in the life expectancy of women with breast cancer raise important questions how to improve quality of life (QoL) for women sustaining complications and side effects of cancer treatment. The presented study examined the prevalence of arm morbidity in a cohort of primary breast cancer patients over time as a result of the extent of axillary lymph node dissection. Of ...
Abstract
Objectives Improvements in the life expectancy of women with breast cancer raise important questions how to improve quality of life (QoL) for women sustaining complications and side effects of cancer treatment. The presented study examined the prevalence of arm morbidity in a cohort of primary breast cancer patients over time as a result of the extent of axillary lymph node dissection. Of particular interest is the question of using a recognized QoL assessment instrument at defined assessment points as an endpoint criteria of oncological treatment. Methods A prospective, population-based, longitudinal cohort study of patients with primary breast cancer was performed (n = 389). QoL data (EORTC QLQ C30 + BR23) and clinical data were assessed at designated time points. Primary endpoint of this analysis was patient reported arm morbidity assessed with the three-idem scale in the BR 23 (swelling, moving, pain). Results 20% of the patients evidenced considerable impairments in arm functioning. Arm morbidity was significantly related to the number of lymph nodes dissected (P < 0.002 entire cohort, P < 0.001 lymph node negatives) and was independent of age, stage of the disease, kind of breast surgery and radiation treatment. Early impairments in arm functioning (below 50 score values) assessed within 6 months after axillary surgery was a good predictor for late arm morbidity at 12 months RR 11.5 (CI 95% 4.7-28.4), 24 months RR 6.0 (CI95% 2.8-13.3) and 36 months RR 3.8 (CI 95% 1.8-7.9). Conclusions Arm morbidity after axillary surgery is a severe and chronic condition affecting many breast cancer patients. The recognized QoL assessment instrument depict patients with severe impairments in arm functioning after axillary lymph node dissection and predict late arm morbidity. To increase patients' quality of life it thus may serve as a valid assessment tool for screening, allowing early referral for treatment and monitoring.
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