Examining pain, body image, and depressive symptoms in patients with lymphedema secondary to breast cancer

Abstract

Our findings provide preliminary evidence that pain intensity and body image are important factors in understanding depressive symptoms in patients with lymphedema. Clinical implications include screening for pain and body image concerns in this population to identify patients who are in distress. Counseling interventions targeting body image dissatisfaction can also be potentially helpful for patients with lymphedema.

Factors associated with psychological distress in women with breast cancer‐related lymphoedema

“…In this study, levels of anxiety were significantly higher than the Australian population norms , and body image disturbance was higher in these women, compared with previous studies of women with breast cancer and breast cancer‐related lymphoedema . Unlike the present study, in the previous study of women with breast cancer‐related lymphoedema all participants had undergone surgical treatment for lymphoedema. It is possible that the treatment successfully reduced swelling for these women, which might explain why they did not report as high a level of body image disturbance as the women in the present study.…”

“…Scores on the depression t (661) = 1.02, p = 0.31, and Stress t (661) = 1.13, p = 0.26, subscales for this sample did not differ from Australian norms . The mean BIS score ( M = 16.78, SD = 7.08) was significantly higher than previously documented in the scale validation studies ( M = 8.07, SD = 5.02) , t (442) = 15.12, p < 0.001, 95% CI [−9.84, −7.58], and in a previous sample of women with breast cancer‐related lymphoedema ( M = 12.27, SD = 8.03) , t (218) = −4.51, p < 0.001, 95 CI [−6.78, −2.25].…”

“…It is likely that lymphoedema‐related body image disturbance will be associated with increased psychological distress, as body image disturbance generally has been associated with distress in breast cancer survivors , especially amongst younger women . Qualitative research supports this view , as does one study that suggests that body image disturbance mediates the relationships between pain and body integrity beliefs, and pain and depression, in women with breast cancer‐related lymphoedema . Taken together, these findings suggest that younger women living with breast cancer‐related lymphoedema will experience greater body image‐related distress than older women.…”

“…Lymphoedema also impacts negatively on the affected individual from a psychological perspective, with impaired quality of life , body image disturbance , and psychological distress commonly reported. Symptoms of lymphoedema , and being poorly informed about lymphoedema and its management , have been linked with increased distress. Furthermore, inadequate social support and use of an avoidant coping style have also been associated with lymphoedema‐related distress.…”

Tempo Sentado, Imagem Corporal E Qualidade De Vida Em Mulheres Após a Cirurgia Do Câncer De Mama

“…Ainda, o esvaziamento axilar afeta significantemente o desencadeamento do linfedema, que representa uma das consequên-cias mais presentes em mulheres após a cirurgia do câncer de mama, e trata-se de uma condição incapacitante crônica e incurável 6 . A dor associada ao linfedema pode influenciar ainda aspectos negativos da imagem corporal destas mulheres 20 . Estes quadros dolorosos podem estar relacionados à dificuldade para realização das atividades diárias e retorno ao trabalho, o que implica em menor produtividade para estas mulheres 21 .…”