Chronic arm morbidity after curative XXXX treatment: prevalence and impact on quality of life.

@entity1 @entity0 @entity5 @entity4269 @entity5848
PURPOSE: To determine the prevalence of and contributing factors for chronic arm morbidity including @entity4269 in @entity0 @entity1 after treatment and to assess the impact of arm morbidity on quality of life (QOL). @entity1 AND METHODS: A four-question screening questionnaire was developed and mailed to a random sample of 744 @entity0 @entity1 treated curatively in two @entity5 centers from 1993 to 1997. @entity1 were without recurrence and at least 2 years from diagnosis. Respondents were classified as with or without arm-related symptoms on the basis of the survey. Stratified random samples from each group were then invited for a detailed assessment of their symptoms and signs, including the presence of @entity4269 . Their QOL was assessed by the European Organization for Research and Treatment of @entity5 QOL Questionnaire C-30 and by a detailed arm problem questionnaire that assessed various aspects of daily arm functioning. RESULTS: Approximately half of all screened @entity1 were symptomatic and 12.5% of all assessed @entity1 had @entity4269 . @entity5848 ( @entity5848 ) and axillary radiotherapy (RT) after dissection were statistically significantly related to the occurrence of arm symptoms (odds ratio for @entity5848 = 3.3, P <.001; odds ratio for RT = 3.1, P <.001). Symptomatic @entity1 and @entity1 with @entity4269 both had impaired QOL compared with asymptomatic @entity1 . CONCLUSION: Treatment for @entity0 is associated with considerable arm morbidity, which has a negative impact on QOL. Arm morbidity should be carefully monitored in future studies involving local treatment modalities for @entity0 .
