Lymphedema Therapy Reduces the Volume of Edema and Pain in Patients with Breast Cancer

Chronic pain and neural irritation after breast surgery and radiation are still relevant sequelae of the treatment. Pain quantification and localization in patient groups are difficult to standardize. In order to quantify and localize pain in a group of breast cancer patients, a Java-based program was developed to visualize the frequency of pain in "pain maps." A questionnaire with structured questions on the perception of pain included pictograms of a body to mark possible pain areas. A group of 343 breast cancer survivors completed the questionnaires. The image information was digitalized and processed using a Java applet. Gray-scale summation pictures with numbers from "0," indicating black (100% pain), to "255," indicating white (0% pain), were generated. The visualization of pain by creating pain maps revealed the location of pain in breast cancer survivors on pictograms of the body. Analyzing the total number of pixels, in which pain was stated, made it possible to compare pain areas in several subgroups, showing that patients after mastectomy versus breast-conserving therapy (3,011 vs. 2,224 pixels), and patients with lymphedema versus patients without lymphedema (3,010 vs. 2,239 pixels), have larger pain areas. This study presents a method of visualizing pain areas and assigning them to a pictogram of the body in a sample of breast cancer patients. The method is easy to use and could help generate pain maps in several types of disease.

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“…The lymphedema group had a larger pain area than the nonlymphedema group. This confirms the results described in other studies [12].…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 94%

Pain perception and detailed visual pain mapping in breast cancer survivors

Jud

Fasching

Maihöfner

et al. 2009

Breast Cancer Res Treat

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“…At 24 months after CDT, PEV was 27.0% and reduced to 64.4% compared to pre-CDT (41.9%). These positive effects of CDT coincide with previous findings of CDT reducing lymphatic volume [34][35][36]. Fig.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 91%

Long Term Effects of Complex Decongestive Therapy in Breast Cancer Patients with Arm Lymphedema after Axillary Dissection

Hwang

Kim

et al. 2013

PM&R

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Objective To investigate the long-term effects of complex decongestive therapy (CDT) on edema reduction in breast cancer-related lymphedema patients after axillary dissection, according to the initial volume of edema. Methods A retrospective review of 57 patients with unilateral arm after an axillary dissection for breast cancer was performed. The patients, treated with two weeks of CDT and self-administered home therapy, were followed for 24 months. Arm volume was serially measured by using an optoelectronic volumeter prior to and immediately after CDT; and there were follow-up visits at 3, 6, 12, and 24 months. Patients were divided into two groups according to the percent excess volume (PEV) prior to CDT: group 1, PEV<20% and group 2, PEV≥20%. Results In group 1, mean PEV before CDT was 11.4±5.0% and 14.1±10.6% at 24 months after CDT with no significant difference. At the end of CDT, PEV was 28.8±15.7% in group 2, which was significantly lower than the baseline (41.9±19.6%). The reduction of PEV was maintained for 24 months in group 2. Conclusion The long-term effects of CDT were well-maintained for 24 months, but there was a difference in progression of PEV between the two groups. The patients with more initial PEV showed significant volumereducing effects of CDT. In patients with less initial PEV, the severity of lymphedema did not progress to higher grades.

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“…This was the case in 56 out of 76 women who reported pain in this research (11) . A study carried out with 44 women compared CDT associated with PC and modified CDT (replacement of compression bandage by Kinesio tape) associated with PC.…”

Section: Resultssupporting

confidence: 50%

“…The most satisfactory results are obtained when treatment is started as soon as the first signs of lymphedema appear. No fibrosis exists in this phase yet and elastic tissue is functional (7,(10)(11) .…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Physiotherapy treatments for breast cancer-related lymphedema: a literature review

Leal

Carrara

Vieira

et al. 2009

Rev. Latino-Am. Enfermagem

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Lymphedema Therapy Reduces the Volume of Edema and Pain in Patients with Breast Cancer

Abstract: Lymphedema continues to be a problem for patients with breast cancer. A program of lymphedema therapy can reduce the volume of edema and reduce pain in this population.

Cited by 93 publications

References 16 publications

Pain perception and detailed visual pain mapping in breast cancer survivors

Pain perception and detailed visual pain mapping in breast cancer survivors

Long Term Effects of Complex Decongestive Therapy in Breast Cancer Patients with Arm Lymphedema after Axillary Dissection

Physiotherapy treatments for breast cancer-related lymphedema: a literature review

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