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ANALYSIS OF CANCER-ASSOCIATED SECONDARY LYMPHOEDEMA IN LOCAL POPULATION

Dr Musarat Jehan Baloch, Dr Naila Jabeen, Dr Ruby, Dr Adina Anwar

Introduction: Lymphoedema is an oedematous condition with a specific and complex tissue biology. In the clinical context of cancer, the pathogenesis of lymphoedema ensues most typically from the modalities employed to stage and treat the cancer. Objectives of the study: The basic objective of the study is to analyse the cancer-associated secondary lymphoedema in local population. Methodology of the study: This descriptive study was conducted in Liaqut University Hospital, Hyderabad during January to July 2019 with the permission of ethical committee of hospital. The questionnaire was designed to collect information on the presence of upper body symptoms and self-reported arm swelling, using the same questions as in the original study described elsewhere. Results: Demographic and disease characteristics of the 158 women with complete outcome data (BIS and self-reported assessment of lymphedema) from the follow-up study were similar to the original Pulling through Study cohort. Prevalence of various upper body symptoms at the 6-year follow-up ranged from 7.4%–15.6%, with 19% of women reporting two or more moderate to severe symptoms. Generally, the prevalence of these symptoms declined between the baseline assessment at 6 months following breast cancer diagnosis and the follow-up study. Conclusion: It is concluded that lymphedema following cancer treatment continues to be a frequently reported morbidity. As patients continue to survive longer following cancer treatment it is important to carefully evaluate not only the symptoms of lymphedema, but also the impact on overall QOL and well-being. Key words: Cancer, Associated, Life, Treatment, Lymphoedema

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