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. 2023 Aug 31;30(9):8068-8077.
doi: 10.3390/curroncol30090585.

Upper-Limb Disability and the Severity of Lymphedema Reduce the Quality of Life of Patients with Breast Cancer-Related Lymphedema

Karol Ramirez-Parada  1 , Angela Gonzalez-Santos  2   3   4 , Layla Riady-Aleuy  5 , Mauricio P Pinto  6 , Carolina Ibañez  7 , Tomas Merino  7 , Francisco Acevedo  7 , Benjamin Walbaum  7 , Rodrigo Fernández-Verdejo  8 , Cesar Sanchez  7
Affiliations

Upper-Limb Disability and the Severity of Lymphedema Reduce the Quality of Life of Patients with Breast Cancer-Related Lymphedema

Karol Ramirez-Parada et al. Curr Oncol. .

Abstract

Breast cancer-related lymphedema (BCRL) is characterized by arm swelling, pain, and discomfort, reducing the quality of life (QoL) of affected individuals. BRCL is caused via the blockage or disruption of the lymphatic vessels following cancer treatments, leading to an accumulation of fluid in the affected arm. While current BCRL rehabilitation treatments seek to reduce arm swelling, our study aimed to examine the impact of both the magnitude of lymphedema (ΔVolume) and arm disability on three dimensions of QoL: social, physical, and psychological. Using the Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder, and Hand questionnaire (DASH) and the Upper Limb Lymphedema 27 questionnaire (ULL) in a group of 30 patients, we found that the magnitude of lymphedema (ΔVolume) was associated with the social dimension of QoL (r = 0.37, p = 0.041), but not with other dimensions. On the other hand, arm disability was associated with all evaluated dimensions of QoL (social, physical, and psychological: p < 0.001, p = 0.019, and p = 0.050 (borderline), respectively). These findings suggest that BCRL rehabilitation strategies should not only aim to reduce the magnitude of lymphedema but should also seek to improve or preserve arm functionality to enhance the QoL of BCRL patients.

Keywords: breast cancer-related lymphedema; breast neoplasms; disability evaluation.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Consistency of ULL dimensions and their association with DASH scores and ΔVolume in BCRL patients. (A–C). The solid lines indicate the linear regression, and the dotted lines indicate the 95% confidence intervals: (n = 30). (D–I). Associations between physical ULL (green dots), psychological ULL (blue dots), and social ULL (yellow dots) dimensions, and the disabilities of the arm, shoulder, and hand (DASH). (D–F) The questionnaire or ΔVolume. (G–I). The solid lines indicate linear regression, and the dotted lines indicate the 95% confidence interval: (n = 30).
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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