The Role of Patient Awareness and Knowledge in Developing Secondary Lymphedema after Breast and Gynecologic Cancer Surgery.

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  • Additional Information
    • Source:
      Publisher: Mary Ann Liebert, Inc Country of Publication: United States NLM ID: 101163587 Publication Model: Print-Electronic Cited Medium: Internet ISSN: 1557-8585 (Electronic) Linking ISSN: 15396851 NLM ISO Abbreviation: Lymphat Res Biol Subsets: MEDLINE
    • Publication Information:
      Original Publication: Larchmont, NY : Mary Ann Liebert, Inc., c2003-
    • Subject Terms:
      Breast Cancer Lymphedema* ; Breast Neoplasms*/complications ; Cancer Survivors* ; Genital Neoplasms, Female*/complications ; Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice*; Delayed Diagnosis ; Female ; Humans ; Survivors
    • Abstract:
      Background: This study aimed to compare the effects of awareness and knowledge on demographic and clinical factors in patients with breast cancer-related lymphedema (BCRL) and gynecologic cancer-related lymphedema (GCRL) in the oncologic rehabilitation setting. Methods and Results: A total of 506 female patients with upper or lower extremity lymphedema, were evaluated for lymphedema education in their postoperative period. Only 74 survivors (25%) with BCRL and 34 survivors (16.83%) with GCRL reported that they had received information about lymphedema by physicians/primary health care providers. In breast cancer survivors, the time of diagnostic delay for lymphedema was shorter in the informed group ( p  < 0.001), and there was a higher rate of cellulite attacks in uninformed patients ( p  = 0.021). Duration between surgery and lymphedema was longer and duration of diagnostic delay for lymphedema was shorter in the informed group than uninformed group in gynecologic cancer survivors ( p  = 0.019, p  < 0.001). There was a higher rate of cellulite history in the uninformed patients than informed patients in gynecologic cancer survivors ( p  < 0.001). In gynecologic cancer survivors who were educated about lymphedema were at an earlier stage than noneducated patients ( p  = 0.024). Conclusion: The rate of awareness about lymphedema among patients with a history of surgery for gynecologic malignancies is lower compared with those for breast cancer. In female cancer survivors, awareness and knowledge about lymphedema may lead to a later onset of lymphedema, lower lymphedema grades, and fewer infection.
    • Contributed Indexing:
      Keywords: awareness; breast cancer; education; gynecologic malignancies; lymphedema; patient information
    • Publication Date:
      Date Created: 20201007 Date Completed: 20210909 Latest Revision: 20210909
    • Publication Date:
      20240105
    • Accession Number:
      10.1089/lrb.2020.0059
    • Accession Number:
      33026963