Abstract:

Purpose: The study was aimed at determining the upper end problems that women undergo breast cancer surgery and the impact of these problems on the quality of life. Method: The sample of this diagnostic type of study was made by 81 women who were less than one, more than 24 months after one-sided breast cancer surgery. The data was collected between November 2015 and August 2016. The study used the "Breast Pain and Disability Index (OAI)", the "European Cancer Research and Treatment Organization's Quality of Life Measure (EORTC QLQ-C30)" and the "Breast Cancer-Specific Quality of Life Measure (EORTC QLQ-BR23)". The movement of the shoulder was measured and lymphodem was assessed. Results: 37% of the women who participated in the study had shoulder joint movement restrictions; 19.8% had lymphodema. For those who do not have a limited movement of the shoulder joint, a significant difference was found in the OAO's points. In women with shoulder joint movement restrictions, the physical function, pain of the EORTC QLQ-C30 scale; the EORTC QLQ-BR23 scale found a significant difference in the breast and cola-related symptom score. There was a meaningful relationship between the EORTC QLQ-C30 and the EORTC QLQ-BR23 life quality scales. There was no meaningful relationship between lymphedema and OAII and the scale of quality of life. Results: Research findings have shown that women experience post-stremity problems that decrease the quality of life after breast cancer surgery and that these problems increase the frequency of symptoms such as pain, fatigue, dyspnea, insomnia.

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Abstract:

Aim: This study aims to identify upper extremity problems of women applied with breast cancer surgery and effects of these problems to quality of life. Method: The sample of this descriptive study consisted of 81 women with a history of at least one, at most 24 months after the unilateral breast cancer surgery.  Data was collected between November 2015 – August 2016. “ Shoulder Pain and Disability Index (SPADI)” , “European Organization for the Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORTC QLQ-C30)” and “The EORTC Breast Cancer-Specific Quality of Life Questionnaire (EORTC QLQ- BR23)” scales were used in study. Shoulder motion range was measured and lymphedema was evaluated. Result: Out of 37% of women had restriction of shoulder motion; 19.8% had lymphedema. There was a significant difference between pain, disability and total score of SPADI at women with shoulder motion restriction compared to those not having. Meaningful difference was found in EORTC QLQ-C30 scale score of physical function and pain, and in EORTC QLQ-BR23 scale score of breast and arm symptoms at women with shoulder motion restriction. There was a significant relationship between SPADI and EORTC QLQ-C30 and EORTC QLQ-BR23 quality of life scales. No meaningful relationship was found between lymphedema with SPADI and quality of life scales. Conclusion: There search findings suggested that women experience upper extremity problems that reduce the quality of life after breast cancer surgery and that these problems increase frequency of symptoms like pain, fatigue, dyspnea and insomnia.