Mastectomy Research Today is a free monthly online journal that collates and summarizes the latest research about Mastectomy, including details on breast cancer, prosthesis, recovery, surgery, complications.

Disability and health-related quality of life after breast cancer surgery: relation to impairments.

Kaya T, Karatepe AG, Günaydn R, Yetiş H, Uslu A

Departments of Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation and 3rd General Surgery, Izmir Bozyaka Training and Research Hospital, Izmir, Turkey. taciserkaya@gmail.com

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of impairments relevant to upper extremity following breast cancer surgery and its impact on disability and health-related quality of life. METHODS: Sixty-seven female patients being treated with modified radical mastectomy or breast conserving surgery were included. They were evaluated for impairments (arm edema, loss of handgrip strength, limited shoulder joint range of motion, and pain), physical disability using the disabilities of the arm, shoulder, and hand (DASH) questionnaire, and for health related quality of life by means of the functional assessment of cancer therapy-breast+4 (FACT-B+4). RESULTS: The most common impairment observed was arm pain on motion; the cause of 20% variance in disability score (r = 0.203, P = 0.000). Arm pain on motion, anterior chest wall pain, loss of grip strength, and shoulder flexion were significant factors in different domains of quality of life according to the FACT-B+4 questionnaire. CONCLUSION: Pain relief should be the priority of treatment along with the prevention of joint movement restriction to ensure a sufficient quality of life for surgically treated breast cancer patients.

Published 6 January 2010 in South Med J, 103(1): 37-41.
Full-text of this article is available online (may require subscription).

Articles on Mastectomy published 29 December 2009:

Longitudinal change of treatment-related upper limb dysfunction and its impact on late dysfunction in breast cancer survivors: a prospective cohort study.   J Surg Oncol, 101(1): 84-91.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: To investigate the prevalence of upper limb dysfunction (ULD) and subtypes after breast cancer surgery and to identify factors associated with late ULD. METHODS: Among 191 enrolled patients, 191 were evaluated at 3 months, 187 at 6 months, and 183 at 12 months after surgery. Pain, shoulder range of motion, muscle strength, and arm circumference were assessed. Based on symptoms and physical examinations, the types of ULD common after breast cancer treatment were ... [Abstract] [Full-text]

Application of screening principles to the reconstructed breast.   J Clin Oncol, 28(1): 173-80.

A significant number of women choose mastectomy for the treatment of early and locally advanced breast cancer. Advances in reconstruction techniques and greater awareness of options have led to an increased use of immediate breast reconstruction, which has resulted in uncertainty for the management of surveillance for local recurrence. In this article, we review mastectomy and reconstruction trends and how these techniques affect the frequency and location of local recurrence. The data on ... [Abstract] [Full-text]

Articles on Mastectomy published 16 December 2009:

Assessment of breast cancer-related arm lymphedema--comparison of physical measurement methods and self-report.   Cancer Invest, 28(1): 54-62.

PURPOSE: To determine the relationship between physical methods of measuring lymphedema and self-reported swelling, their reliability, and standard error of measurement. METHOD: Lymphedema in each arm of women with (n = 33) and without (n = 18) unilateral arm lymphedema, secondary to breast cancer was measured by self-report, bioimpedance spectroscopy (BIS), perometer, and the truncated cone method. RESULTS: The physical measurement tools were highly reliable (ICC((2,1)): 0.94 to 1.00) with ... [Abstract] [Full-text]

Articles on Mastectomy published 20 November 2009:

The impact of breast MRI on surgical decision-making: are patients at risk for mastectomy?   J Surg Oncol, 100(7): 553-8.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: The goal of the current study was to determine whether MRI impacts multidisciplinary treatment planning and if it leads to increased mastectomy rates. METHODS: A retrospective review was conducted of 441 patients treated for breast cancer between January 2005 and May 2008 who underwent breast MRI. Data included number of additional findings and their imaging and pathologic work-up. This was analyzed to determine impact of MRI on treatment planning. RESULTS: Of 441 ... [Abstract] [Full-text]

Articles on Mastectomy published 11 November 2009:

Prevalence of and factors associated with persistent pain following breast cancer surgery.   JAMA, 302(18): 1985-92.

CONTEXT: Persistent pain and sensory disturbances following surgical treatment for breast cancer is a significant clinical problem. The pathogenic mechanisms are complex and may be related to patient characteristics, surgical technique, and adjuvant therapy. OBJECTIVE: To examine prevalence of and factors associated with persistent pain after surgical treatment for breast cancer. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PATIENTS: A nationwide cross-sectional questionnaire study of 3754 women aged 18 to 70 years ... [Abstract] [Full-text]

Articles on Mastectomy published 26 October 2009:

Attaining negative margins in breast-conservation operations: is there a consensus among breast surgeons?   J Am Coll Surg, 209(5): 608-13.

BACKGROUND: The purpose of this survey was to ascertain the most common surgical practices for attaining negative (tumor-free) surgical margins in patients desiring breast-conservation treatment for breast cancer to see if a consensus exists for optimal treatment of patients. STUDY DESIGN: We sent a survey to 1,000 surgeons interested in the treatment of breast cancer. Three hundred eighty-one surgeons responded to this survey and 351 were used for the analysis (response rate of 38%). RESULTS: ... [Abstract] [Full-text]

Articles on Mastectomy published 14 October 2009:

Surgeon recommendations and receipt of mastectomy for treatment of breast cancer.   JAMA, 302(14): 1551-6.

CONTEXT: There is concern that mastectomy is overused in the United States. OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the association of patient-reported initial recommendations by surgeons and those given when a second opinion was sought with receipt of initial mastectomy; and to assess the use of mastectomy after attempted breast-conserving surgery (BCS). DESIGN, SETTING, AND PATIENTS: A survey of women aged 20 to 79 years with intraductal or stage I and II breast cancer diagnosed between June 2005 and ... [Abstract] [Full-text]

Articles on Mastectomy published 7 October 2009:

Decision involvement and receipt of mastectomy among racially and ethnically diverse breast cancer patients.   J Natl Cancer Inst, 101(19): 1337-47.

BACKGROUND: Few studies have evaluated the association between patient decision involvement and surgery received among racially and ethnically diverse patients or patients' attitudes about surgery and the role of family and friends in surgical treatment choices. METHODS: Women diagnosed with nonmetastatic breast cancer from June 2005 through February 2007 and reported to the Los Angeles or Detroit Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results registries were mailed a survey after diagnosis (N = ... [Abstract] [Full-text]

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