Lymph Node Removal, Excess Weight Linked to Long-Term Arm Problems After Breast Cancer Treatment
A study suggests that the main risk factors for long-term arm problems after breast cancer treatment are:
having a BMI of 30 or higher
having mastectomy
more advanced-stage breast cancer
receiving radiation therapy
receiving chemotherapy
having an infection or injury in the affected arm after surgery
The research was published in the Dec. 1, 2023, issue of the journal Oncotarget. Read “Risk factors for long-term arm morbidities following breast cancer treatments: A systematic review.”
Why do the study?
About 50% of people who’ve been diagnosed with breast cancer have long-term side effects after treatment is completed. These side effects can make it hard to get back to work, lower quality of life, and affect many people’s ability to carry out the activities of daily life, such as getting dressed, bathing, and doing household chores.
The researchers wanted to identify the risk factors for the four most common arms problems after breast cancer treatment:
persistent pain
decreased range of motion
loss of arm function
Knowing the risk factors will help doctors figure out who has a high risk of these problems and offer tailored help to prevent the problems from becoming severe.
About the study
This study was a systematic review, which is the same thing as a meta-analysis. A meta-analysis is a study that combines and analyzes the results of a number of earlier studies. For this meta-analysis, the researchers reviewed 69 studies published between 2001 and 2021 and included 22,886 people who received breast cancer treatment. The people were followed for between three months and 10 years.
The researchers’ analysis found the top risk factors for each of the four most common problems.
The risk factors for persistent pain were:
being younger than 50
receiving radiation
receiving chemotherapy
having axillary lymph node surgery
more advanced-stage breast cancer
having mastectomy
having intense pain before breast cancer surgery
The risk factors for lymphedema were:
having a larger number of lymph nodes removed
BMI of 30 or higher
having mastectomy
more advanced-stage breast cancer
receiving radiation
receiving chemotherapy
having an infection or injury in the affected arm after breast cancer surgery
The risk factors for decreased range of motion were:
receiving radiation
having mastectomy
having axillary lymph node surgery
BMI of 30 or higher
The risk factors for losing arm function were:
having axillary lymph node surgery
being older than 50
BMI higher than 25
receiving chemotherapy
“The identification of these diverse risk factors enhances our understanding of the multifactorial nature of arm morbidity in breast cancer patients,” the researchers wrote. “By acknowledging and recognizing these risk factors, healthcare providers can develop more targeted interventions and personalized treatment plans.”
What this means for you
If you have any of the risk factors for the four most common arm problems after breast cancer treatment, it makes sense to talk to your healthcare team about ways to control these potential problems before you start treatment.
Your team may be able to modify your treatment plan to lower your risk of arm problems. They also can closely monitor you for lymphedema, pain, and decreased range of motion and function, and address any issues before they become serious or chronic.
— Last updated on April 30, 2024 at 5:31 PM