BACKGROUND: Breast cancer-related lymphedema (BCRL) is a negative sequela of breast cancer treatment that affects approximately one in five patients treated for breast cancer. The median time of BCRL development is three years post breast cancer treatment. The purpose of this study was to compare the incidence of specific factors between two patient populations: patients who developed BCRL within the median BCRL-onset time and patients who developed late onset BCRL (defined as after three years post breast cancer surgery). METHODS: Two cohorts, one with patients who developed BCRL within the median onset time and another with patients who developed late onset lymphedema, were examined. An in-depth chart review was conducted to identify specific factors including age, body mass index, history of cellulitis, cording, seroma, hematoma, and trauma as well as the specific breast cancer treatment each patient received. RESULTS: The results indicated that there was a higher incidence of trauma, cellulitis, and cording in the late onset BCRL group. Additionally, more patients in the late onset group received BCRL-related physical therapy prior to their BCRL diagnosis than patients in the median onset time group. CONCLUSION: Patients with late onset lymphedema had a higher incidence of trauma, cellulitis, and/or cording compared to patients who developed BCRL within three years of surgery. Given that purpose of this study was solely to examine incidence and not significance, further studies must be conducted in order to determine if these are in fact significant risk factors for late onset BCRL. / 2022-06-04T00:00:00Z

Bakgrund: Bröstcancer-relaterat lymfödem (BCRL) är en vanlig komplikation efter bröstcancerbehandling. Tidigare forskning visar varierande förekomst av BCRL, tillståndet tros vara underdiagnostiserat. Tidiga tecken kan beskrivas som en vag tyngdkänsla och/eller spänningskänsla. Detta kan leda till stora negativa konsekvenser vilket motiverar vikten att detektera BCRL i ett tidigt stadie då tidig behandling förbättrar prognosen.  Syfte: Undersöka förekomst av tidiga besvär/symtom samt undersöka sambandet mellan patientrapporterade tidiga besvär/symtom och läkarens bedömning av besvär vid samma tillfälle.  Metod: Kvinnor som genomgått kurativ behandling mot bröstcancer deltog i studien. Datainsamlingen skedde vid återbesöket på onkologmottagningen 3 månader efter avslutad behandling. Data samlades in med patientenkät (avseende besvär/symtom från armen) och läkarbedömning, inom ramen för ett kliniskt utvecklingsprojekt.   Resultat: 61 enkäter ingick i studien. 22 deltagare upplevde besvär från armen på den opererade sidan. 70% av de 43 deltagarna som skattade symtom angav förekomst av ≥1 symtom. I 76% av de 55 läkarbedömningarna hade bedömningen inga besvär gjorts. Samband kunde påvisas gällande frekvensen av patientrapporterade besvär och läkarens bedömning av armsvullnad (p=0,005) och handödem (p=0,003) samt mellan patientrapporterade symtom och läkarens bedömning av armsvullnad (p=0,008). I de fall patienten skattat besvär/symtom fanns en signifikant andel där läkaren bedömt att det inte förekom ödem/svullnad. I de fall patienten inte rapporterade besvär hade läkaren också bedömt frånvaro av ödem/svullnad. Konklusion: Det är vanligt att patienten upplever besvär/symtom från armen på den opererade sidan, och att patienter upplever symtom i större utsträckning än att läkaren gjort bedömningen att handödem, subcutant ödem eller armsvullnad förekommer. / Background: Breast cancer-related lymphedema (BCRL) is a complication following breast cancer treatment, it is probably underdiagnosed and the prevalence varies in previous studies. Early signs can be subtle sensations of heaviness and/or tightness in limbs. BCRL can have several negative impact, this motivates the importance of early detection because early intervention improves the prognosis.   Aim: Investigate the prevalence of early signs/symtoms of BCRL and investigate the association between patient reported outcomes and the physician assessment of BCRL.  Method: Women who underwent curative treatment of breast cancer was included. Data was collected at the follow-up 3 months after finished treatment in purpose for a clinical project. A questionnaire was used for the patient (regarding signs/symtoms from the arm) and physician rescpectively. Results: 61 participants were included. 22 participants reported signs from the arm on the affected side. 70% of those who reported symptoms, reported a presence of ≥1 symtoms. The physicians estimated no signs in 76% of 55 participants. There was an association between the frequency of patient reported signs from the arm and the physicians assessment of armswelling (p=0,005), hand edema (p=0,003) and between patient reported symtoms and the physicians assessment of armswelling (p=0,008). When the patient reported signs/symptoms, there was a significant proportion where the physician estimated no edema/swelling. In cases when the patient reported no signs/symptoms, the physician also assessed absence of edema/swelling. Conclusion: Patients often experience signs/symptoms from the arm on the affected side, and patients reports symptoms more frequent than physicians assess presence of early signs of BCRL.