Lymphedema and quality of life in breast cancer survivors: the Iowa Women's Health Study.

ABSTRACT:

Purpose

The impact of lymphedema or related arm symptoms on health-related quality of life (HRQOL) in breast cancer (BrCa) survivors has not been examined using a large population-based cohort.

Patients and methods

The Iowa Women's Health Study (IWHS) collected self-report data for lymphedema, arm symptoms, and HRQOL (Medical Outcomes Study Short Form-36) in 2004 and data for cancer diagnosis, treatment, and behavioral and health characteristics between 1986 and 2003. We studied 1,287 women, age 55 to 69 years at baseline, who developed unilateral BrCa. We used cross-sectional analyses to describe the prevalence of lymphedema and arm symptoms and multivariate-adjusted generalized linear models to compare HRQOL (physical functioning, bodily pain, general health, physical and

SUBMITTER: Ahmed RL 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC2600601 | biostudies-literature | 2008 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature