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The psychological morbidity of breast cancer–related arm swelling. Psychological morbidity of lymphoedema
Author(s) -
Tobin Marie B.,
Lacey Hubert J.,
Meyer Lesley,
Mortimer Peter S.
Publication year - 1993
Publication title -
cancer
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 3.052
H-Index - 304
eISSN - 1097-0142
pISSN - 0008-543X
DOI - 10.1002/1097-0142(19931201)72:11<3248::aid-cncr2820721119>3.0.co;2-z
Subject(s) - psychosocial , medicine , breast cancer , lymphedema , disease , physical therapy , cancer , psychiatry
Background. The psychological morbidity, functional impairment, and disturbance in psychosocial adjustment to illness was evaluated in relation to breast cancer‐related arm swelling. Methods. Fifty women with breast cancer‐related arm swelling were matched with 50 control subjects for age, duration since treatment, and type of treatment received. All study participants were free from active disease and had been treated more than 1 year ago. Results. Patients with arm swelling showed greater psychological morbidity at formal psychiatric interview, impaired adjustment to illness as evaluated by the Psychosocial Adjustment to Illness Scale, and greater impairment of physical functioning. Conclusions. Patients with arm swelling in relation to breast cancer experienced functional impairment, psychosocial maladjustment, and increased psychological morbidity. These findings have implications for management of breast cancer.