The Complete Decongestive Therapy to Treat Lymphedema in Post-Breast Cancer Surgery and Its Relationships with Patients Psychological and Physical Characteristics: A Pilot Study

Eva Mazzotti; Roberto Bartoletti; Claudia Sebastiani; Alessandro Scoppola; Paolo Marchetti

doi:doi:10.11648/j.jctr.20150303.13

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The Complete Decongestive Therapy to Treat Lymphedema in Post-Breast Cancer Surgery and Its Relationships with Patients Psychological and Physical Characteristics: A Pilot Study

Eva Mazzotti, Roberto Bartoletti, Claudia Sebastiani, Alessandro Scoppola, Paolo Marchetti

Published in Journal of Cancer Treatment and Research (Volume 3, Issue 3)

Received: 10 November 2014 Accepted: 6 January 2015 Published: 30 April 2015

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Abstract

Background. More than 20% of women treated for breast cancer are at risk for developing lymphedema, a chronic condition that causes swelling, pain, altered appearance and reduced mobility. Complete Decongestive Therapy (CDT) is considered the gold standard to treat lymphedema. Objective. To measure lymphedema features and psychological variables in 10 post-breast cancer surgery patients at baseline, and 1, 6, and 12 months after CDT. Results. Lymphedema appeared between 0 and 6 years after breast cancer surgery. After 4 weeks in CDT treatment, the median degree of reduction was 38.73% (range, 7.45-58.39), and six months after, 49.57% (range, 11.91-82.50). Comparing patients that have had an extra reduction in arm circumferences at T3 (group 1) and patients that did not (group 2), we found: patients in group 1 showed at baseline a better psychological functioning (health-related quality of life domains, anxiety, depression, body-image vulnerability, appearance stereotyping), and higher scores in curability and severity respect to the comparison group. 12 months after the CDT, among patients of the group 1, the lymphedema is perceived as less severe and more curable compared to their perception at baseline, and dysfunctional investment in one’s appearance and anxiety scores decreased, emotional wellbeing improved. Patients in the group 2 perceived lymphedema as much more curable, but also much more severe that at baseline. Both, anxiety and dysfunctional investment in one’s appearance scores increased. Conclusions. Too often, conventional rehabilitation may not optimally match clinical resources to patients’ needs, and if our results will be confirmed, screening and independent treatment for psychological distress will be required in patients to prevent poor CDT responses.

Published in	Journal of Cancer Treatment and Research (Volume 3, Issue 3)
DOI	10.11648/j.jctr.20150303.13
Page(s)	37-41
Creative Commons	This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, provided the original work is properly cited.
Copyright	Copyright © The Author(s), 2024. Published by Science Publishing Group

Keywords

Breast Cancer, Complete Decongestive Therapy, Lymphedema, Follow up Study, Post-Breast Cancer Surgery Effect

References

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APA Style

Eva Mazzotti, Roberto Bartoletti, Claudia Sebastiani, Alessandro Scoppola, Paolo Marchetti. (2015). The Complete Decongestive Therapy to Treat Lymphedema in Post-Breast Cancer Surgery and Its Relationships with Patients Psychological and Physical Characteristics: A Pilot Study. Journal of Cancer Treatment and Research, 3(3), 37-41. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.jctr.20150303.13

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ACS Style

Eva Mazzotti; Roberto Bartoletti; Claudia Sebastiani; Alessandro Scoppola; Paolo Marchetti. The Complete Decongestive Therapy to Treat Lymphedema in Post-Breast Cancer Surgery and Its Relationships with Patients Psychological and Physical Characteristics: A Pilot Study. J. Cancer Treat. Res. 2015, 3(3), 37-41. doi: 10.11648/j.jctr.20150303.13

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AMA Style

Eva Mazzotti, Roberto Bartoletti, Claudia Sebastiani, Alessandro Scoppola, Paolo Marchetti. The Complete Decongestive Therapy to Treat Lymphedema in Post-Breast Cancer Surgery and Its Relationships with Patients Psychological and Physical Characteristics: A Pilot Study. J Cancer Treat Res. 2015;3(3):37-41. doi: 10.11648/j.jctr.20150303.13

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@article{10.11648/j.jctr.20150303.13,
  author = {Eva Mazzotti and Roberto Bartoletti and Claudia Sebastiani and Alessandro Scoppola and Paolo Marchetti},
  title = {The Complete Decongestive Therapy to Treat Lymphedema in Post-Breast Cancer Surgery and Its Relationships with Patients Psychological and Physical Characteristics: A Pilot Study},
  journal = {Journal of Cancer Treatment and Research},
  volume = {3},
  number = {3},
  pages = {37-41},
  doi = {10.11648/j.jctr.20150303.13},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.jctr.20150303.13},
  eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.jctr.20150303.13},
  abstract = {Background. More than 20% of women treated for breast cancer are at risk for developing lymphedema, a chronic condition that causes swelling, pain, altered appearance and reduced mobility. Complete Decongestive Therapy (CDT) is considered the gold standard to treat lymphedema. Objective. To measure lymphedema features and psychological variables in 10 post-breast cancer surgery patients at baseline, and 1, 6, and 12 months after CDT. Results. Lymphedema appeared between 0 and 6 years after breast cancer surgery. After 4 weeks in CDT treatment, the median degree of reduction was 38.73% (range, 7.45-58.39), and six months after, 49.57% (range, 11.91-82.50). Comparing patients that have had an extra reduction in arm circumferences at T3 (group 1) and patients that did not (group 2), we found: patients in group 1 showed at baseline a better psychological functioning (health-related quality of life domains, anxiety, depression, body-image vulnerability, appearance stereotyping), and higher scores in curability and severity respect to the comparison group.  12 months after the CDT, among patients of the group 1, the lymphedema is perceived as less severe and more curable compared to their perception at baseline, and dysfunctional investment in one’s appearance and anxiety scores decreased, emotional wellbeing improved. Patients in the group 2 perceived lymphedema as much more curable, but also much more severe that at baseline. Both, anxiety and dysfunctional investment in one’s appearance scores increased. Conclusions. Too often, conventional rehabilitation may not optimally match clinical resources to patients’ needs, and if our results will be confirmed, screening and independent treatment for psychological distress will be required in patients to prevent poor CDT responses.},
 year = {2015}
}

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TY - JOUR
T1 - The Complete Decongestive Therapy to Treat Lymphedema in Post-Breast Cancer Surgery and Its Relationships with Patients Psychological and Physical Characteristics: A Pilot Study
AU - Eva Mazzotti
AU - Roberto Bartoletti
AU - Claudia Sebastiani
AU - Alessandro Scoppola
AU - Paolo Marchetti
Y1 - 2015/04/30
PY - 2015
N1 - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.jctr.20150303.13
DO - 10.11648/j.jctr.20150303.13
T2 - Journal of Cancer Treatment and Research
JF - Journal of Cancer Treatment and Research
JO - Journal of Cancer Treatment and Research
SP - 37
EP - 41
PB - Science Publishing Group
SN - 2376-7790
UR - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.jctr.20150303.13
AB - Background. More than 20% of women treated for breast cancer are at risk for developing lymphedema, a chronic condition that causes swelling, pain, altered appearance and reduced mobility. Complete Decongestive Therapy (CDT) is considered the gold standard to treat lymphedema. Objective. To measure lymphedema features and psychological variables in 10 post-breast cancer surgery patients at baseline, and 1, 6, and 12 months after CDT. Results. Lymphedema appeared between 0 and 6 years after breast cancer surgery. After 4 weeks in CDT treatment, the median degree of reduction was 38.73% (range, 7.45-58.39), and six months after, 49.57% (range, 11.91-82.50). Comparing patients that have had an extra reduction in arm circumferences at T3 (group 1) and patients that did not (group 2), we found: patients in group 1 showed at baseline a better psychological functioning (health-related quality of life domains, anxiety, depression, body-image vulnerability, appearance stereotyping), and higher scores in curability and severity respect to the comparison group. 12 months after the CDT, among patients of the group 1, the lymphedema is perceived as less severe and more curable compared to their perception at baseline, and dysfunctional investment in one’s appearance and anxiety scores decreased, emotional wellbeing improved. Patients in the group 2 perceived lymphedema as much more curable, but also much more severe that at baseline. Both, anxiety and dysfunctional investment in one’s appearance scores increased. Conclusions. Too often, conventional rehabilitation may not optimally match clinical resources to patients’ needs, and if our results will be confirmed, screening and independent treatment for psychological distress will be required in patients to prevent poor CDT responses.
VL - 3
IS - 3
ER -

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Author Information

Eva Mazzotti

Department of Clinical and Molecular Medicine, Sant’Andrea Hospital, School of Medicine and Psychology, University “La Sapienza” Rome, Italy
Roberto Bartoletti

Division of Oncology and Oncological Dermatology- IDI-IRCCS, Rome, Italy
Claudia Sebastiani

Division of Oncology and Oncological Dermatology- IDI-IRCCS, Rome, Italy
Alessandro Scoppola

Division of Oncology and Oncological Dermatology- IDI-IRCCS, Rome, Italy
Paolo Marchetti

Division of Oncology and Oncological Dermatology- IDI-IRCCS, Rome, Italy; Department of Clinical Oncology, Sant’Andrea Hospital, School of Medicine and Psychology, University “La Sapienza” Rome, Italy

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APA Style

Eva Mazzotti, Roberto Bartoletti, Claudia Sebastiani, Alessandro Scoppola, Paolo Marchetti. (2015). The Complete Decongestive Therapy to Treat Lymphedema in Post-Breast Cancer Surgery and Its Relationships with Patients Psychological and Physical Characteristics: A Pilot Study. Journal of Cancer Treatment and Research, 3(3), 37-41. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.jctr.20150303.13

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ACS Style

Eva Mazzotti; Roberto Bartoletti; Claudia Sebastiani; Alessandro Scoppola; Paolo Marchetti. The Complete Decongestive Therapy to Treat Lymphedema in Post-Breast Cancer Surgery and Its Relationships with Patients Psychological and Physical Characteristics: A Pilot Study. J. Cancer Treat. Res. 2015, 3(3), 37-41. doi: 10.11648/j.jctr.20150303.13

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AMA Style

Eva Mazzotti, Roberto Bartoletti, Claudia Sebastiani, Alessandro Scoppola, Paolo Marchetti. The Complete Decongestive Therapy to Treat Lymphedema in Post-Breast Cancer Surgery and Its Relationships with Patients Psychological and Physical Characteristics: A Pilot Study. J Cancer Treat Res. 2015;3(3):37-41. doi: 10.11648/j.jctr.20150303.13

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@article{10.11648/j.jctr.20150303.13,
  author = {Eva Mazzotti and Roberto Bartoletti and Claudia Sebastiani and Alessandro Scoppola and Paolo Marchetti},
  title = {The Complete Decongestive Therapy to Treat Lymphedema in Post-Breast Cancer Surgery and Its Relationships with Patients Psychological and Physical Characteristics: A Pilot Study},
  journal = {Journal of Cancer Treatment and Research},
  volume = {3},
  number = {3},
  pages = {37-41},
  doi = {10.11648/j.jctr.20150303.13},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.jctr.20150303.13},
  eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.jctr.20150303.13},
  abstract = {Background. More than 20% of women treated for breast cancer are at risk for developing lymphedema, a chronic condition that causes swelling, pain, altered appearance and reduced mobility. Complete Decongestive Therapy (CDT) is considered the gold standard to treat lymphedema. Objective. To measure lymphedema features and psychological variables in 10 post-breast cancer surgery patients at baseline, and 1, 6, and 12 months after CDT. Results. Lymphedema appeared between 0 and 6 years after breast cancer surgery. After 4 weeks in CDT treatment, the median degree of reduction was 38.73% (range, 7.45-58.39), and six months after, 49.57% (range, 11.91-82.50). Comparing patients that have had an extra reduction in arm circumferences at T3 (group 1) and patients that did not (group 2), we found: patients in group 1 showed at baseline a better psychological functioning (health-related quality of life domains, anxiety, depression, body-image vulnerability, appearance stereotyping), and higher scores in curability and severity respect to the comparison group.  12 months after the CDT, among patients of the group 1, the lymphedema is perceived as less severe and more curable compared to their perception at baseline, and dysfunctional investment in one’s appearance and anxiety scores decreased, emotional wellbeing improved. Patients in the group 2 perceived lymphedema as much more curable, but also much more severe that at baseline. Both, anxiety and dysfunctional investment in one’s appearance scores increased. Conclusions. Too often, conventional rehabilitation may not optimally match clinical resources to patients’ needs, and if our results will be confirmed, screening and independent treatment for psychological distress will be required in patients to prevent poor CDT responses.},
 year = {2015}
}

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