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The problems of patients with lymphoedema. Pilot study of breast cancer survivors
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Abstract
Material and methods: The clinical study involved 22 patients suffering from post-mastectomy lymphoedema. They were asked to fill in a special lymphoedema physiotherapy assessment form.
Results: All the patients included in the study underwent physiotherapy within lymphoedema treatment. Only three patients (14%) used complex decongestive therapy and most of the patients (82%) had therapy only once a year for twenty days. The results of the study confirm the fact, that lymphoedema is a chronic condition. Fourteen patients (63%) described their lymphoedema as permanent and increasing in time and only three patients (14%) as periodically retreating. The post-mastectomy pain syndrome is another serious problem of patients after surgery. Four of the patients (18%) suffered from pain with the average intensity of 9 on NRS scale (0-10). None of the patients received any special analgetic treatment, which proves that the post-mastectomy pain syndrome is rarely diagnosed and treated.
Conclusion: The study presents the outline of problems and needs of patients after breast cancer surgery. It also emphasizes the importance of physiotherapy in post-mastectomy patients. However, it ought to be continued in a bigger group of patients as to authenticate the observations.
Abstract
Material and methods: The clinical study involved 22 patients suffering from post-mastectomy lymphoedema. They were asked to fill in a special lymphoedema physiotherapy assessment form.
Results: All the patients included in the study underwent physiotherapy within lymphoedema treatment. Only three patients (14%) used complex decongestive therapy and most of the patients (82%) had therapy only once a year for twenty days. The results of the study confirm the fact, that lymphoedema is a chronic condition. Fourteen patients (63%) described their lymphoedema as permanent and increasing in time and only three patients (14%) as periodically retreating. The post-mastectomy pain syndrome is another serious problem of patients after surgery. Four of the patients (18%) suffered from pain with the average intensity of 9 on NRS scale (0-10). None of the patients received any special analgetic treatment, which proves that the post-mastectomy pain syndrome is rarely diagnosed and treated.
Conclusion: The study presents the outline of problems and needs of patients after breast cancer surgery. It also emphasizes the importance of physiotherapy in post-mastectomy patients. However, it ought to be continued in a bigger group of patients as to authenticate the observations.
Keywords
post-mastectomy lymphoedema; breast cancer; physiotherapy
About this articleTitle
The problems of patients with lymphoedema. Pilot study of breast cancer survivors
Journal
Advances in Palliative Medicine
Issue
Pages
101-106
Published online
2009-11-02
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784
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Bibliographic record
Advances in Palliative Medicine 2009;8(3):101-106.
Keywords
post-mastectomy lymphoedema
breast cancer
physiotherapy
Authors
Anna Pyszora
Aleksandra Adamowska
Małgorzata Krajnik