TY - JOUR
T1 - Quality of life of women with lower limb swelling or lymphedema 3-5 years following endometrial cancer
AU - Rowlands, I.J.
AU - Beesley, V.L.
AU - Janda, M.
AU - Hayes, S.C.
AU - Obermair, A.
AU - Quinn, M.A.
AU - Brand, A.H.
AU - Leung, Yee
AU - Mcquire, L.
AU - Webb, P.M.
PY - 2014/5
Y1 - 2014/5
N2 - Objective: To quantitatively assess and compare the quality of life (QoL) of women with a self-reported diagnosis of lower limb lymphedema (LLL), to women with lower limb swelling (LLS), and to women without LLL or LLS following treatment for endometrial cancer.
Methods: 1399 participants in the Australian National Endometrial Cancer Study were sent a follow-up questionnaire 3-5 years after diagnosis. Women were asked if they had experienced swelling in the lower limbs and, if so, whether they had received a diagnosis of lymphedema by a health professional. The 639 women who responded were categorized as: Women with LLL (n = 68), women with LLS (n = 177) and women without LLL or LLS (n = 394). Multivariable-adjusted generalized linear models were used to compare women's physical and mental QoL by LLL status.
Results: On average, women were 65 years of age and 4 years after diagnosis. Women with LLL had clinically lower physical QoL (M = 41.8, SE = 1.4) than women without LLL or LLS (M = 45.1, SE = 0.8, p = .07), however, their mental QoL was within the normative range (M = 49.6; SE = 1.1 p = 1.0). Women with LLS had significantly lower physical (M = 41.0, SE = 1.0, p = .003) and mental QoL (M = 46.8; SE = 0.8, p < .0001) than women without LLL or LLS (Mental QoL: M = 50.6, SE = 0.8).
Conclusion: Although LLL was associated with reductions in physical QoL, LLS was related to reductions in both physical and mental QoL 3–5 years after cancer treatment. Early referral to evidence-based lymphedema programs may prevent long-term impairments to women's QoL.
AB - Objective: To quantitatively assess and compare the quality of life (QoL) of women with a self-reported diagnosis of lower limb lymphedema (LLL), to women with lower limb swelling (LLS), and to women without LLL or LLS following treatment for endometrial cancer.
Methods: 1399 participants in the Australian National Endometrial Cancer Study were sent a follow-up questionnaire 3-5 years after diagnosis. Women were asked if they had experienced swelling in the lower limbs and, if so, whether they had received a diagnosis of lymphedema by a health professional. The 639 women who responded were categorized as: Women with LLL (n = 68), women with LLS (n = 177) and women without LLL or LLS (n = 394). Multivariable-adjusted generalized linear models were used to compare women's physical and mental QoL by LLL status.
Results: On average, women were 65 years of age and 4 years after diagnosis. Women with LLL had clinically lower physical QoL (M = 41.8, SE = 1.4) than women without LLL or LLS (M = 45.1, SE = 0.8, p = .07), however, their mental QoL was within the normative range (M = 49.6; SE = 1.1 p = 1.0). Women with LLS had significantly lower physical (M = 41.0, SE = 1.0, p = .003) and mental QoL (M = 46.8; SE = 0.8, p < .0001) than women without LLL or LLS (Mental QoL: M = 50.6, SE = 0.8).
Conclusion: Although LLL was associated with reductions in physical QoL, LLS was related to reductions in both physical and mental QoL 3–5 years after cancer treatment. Early referral to evidence-based lymphedema programs may prevent long-term impairments to women's QoL.
U2 - 10.1016/j.ygyno.2014.03.003
DO - 10.1016/j.ygyno.2014.03.003
M3 - Article
SN - 0090-8258
VL - 133
SP - 314
EP - 318
JO - Gynecologic Oncology
JF - Gynecologic Oncology
IS - 2
ER -
