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Query: UMLS:C0006142 (breast cancer)
 160,383 document(s) hit in 31,850,051 MEDLINE articles (0.00 seconds)

Fourteen postmenopausal women with estrogen-receptor positive advanced breast cancer and no prior cytostatic treatment received 20 mg toremifene daily as a single dose after a loading dose (120----60----60 mg) for the first 3 days. All were evaluable and had undergone at least 6 weeks' treatment. Results were: no complete remissions (CR), 3 partial remissions (PR), 8 no change (NC) and 3 cases of progressive disease (PD). Three patients had mild side effects: nausea, insomnia, sweating and arm pain.
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PMID:Treatment of advanced breast cancer with 20 mg toremifene, a phase II study. Preliminary communication. 214 39

The causes of ipsilateral arm pain were analyzed in a consecutive series of 38 patients with breast cancer. A lesion of the brachial plexus was diagnosed in 17 patients, of whom 8 had tumor involvement, 5 had radiation fibrosis, 1 had lymphedema entrapment, and 3 had a probable transient neuritis of the plexus. In four patients, a cervical radiculopathy was found; two of these patients had a Horner's syndrome. A carpal tunnel syndrome was seen in four patients and could possibly be attributed to lymphedema in two patients. In five patients, a pericapsulitis of the shoulder joint was seen. Seven of eight patients with a postsurgical pain had a neuropathic pain related to damage of the intercostobrachial nerve induced by a postaxillary dissection. These diagnoses probably indicate the most common causes of ipsilateral arm pain in breast cancer. A postaxillary dissection pain seems the most frequent type of postsurgical pain in breast cancer.
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PMID:Arm pain in the patient with breast cancer. 234 86

From the available evidence it is clear that mastectomy is associated with a substantial psychological and psychiatric morbidity. To date there is no convincing evidence that counseling can prevent this morbidity, but monitoring of women's psychological adjustment can lead to early detection and effective treatment of their problem. The use of immediate or delayed implantation or reconstruction appears to reduce the psychiatric morbidity in those women who are particularly concerned about their appearance at the time of surgery. Psychiatric morbidity is further increased when adjuvant chemotherapy is used and when treatment results in persistent arm pain and swelling. A shorter course of adjuvant chemotherapy and reduction of surgery within the axilla could reduce psychiatric morbidity. The role of radiotherapy is still unclear, but in some studies a link has been found between the amount of radiotherapy given, adverse effects, and psychiatric morbidity. In women undergoing breast conservation the reduction in body image problems is offset by greater anxiety about recurrence and depression caused by radiotherapy. Exploring and allowing choice when a patient has a strong preference for breast conservation or mastectomy appears to reduce morbidity. But attention still needs to be paid to the early recognition and treatment of psychological problems in patients with breast cancer, and guidelines are provided.
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PMID:Breast conservation versus mastectomy: psychological considerations. 254 51

The aim of this study was to review the ability to control symptoms of regional lymphatic relapse in women with early breast cancer. A retrospective study was made of 759 consecutive women presenting with stage 1 or 2 breast cancer treated by breast conserving surgery and radiotherapy between June 1984 and December 1994, 291 (38.3%) of whom were managed by a policy of observation on the lymphatic pathways. Patterns of lymphatic relapse, relapse management and morbidity caused by recurrent malignancy were reviewed from the case notes. The overall rate of relapse in the ipsilateral axilla and/or supraclavicular fossa was 76/759 (10%) at any time prior to death or last follow-up. 34 of 65 patients who relapsed in the axilla did so despite prior axillary surgery and/or radiotherapy. 41 of 76 patients with regional recurrence presented with symptoms, including lymphoedema, arm pain or sensory motor changes. These symptoms were poorly controlled by palliative surgery, radiotherapy or systemic therapy in 23 cases, including 12 who progressed to arm paralysis. Symptomatic control of patients with regional lymphatic relapse can be very difficult, even in women under regular surveillance in a multidisciplinary breast cancer clinic.
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PMID:Lymphatic relapse in women with early breast cancer: a difficult management problem. 1053 49

There is little, if any, difference in disease-free or overall survival for patients with stage I and II breast cancer treated by either breast conservation therapy or mastectomy. With either treatment, there may be cosmetic and functional problems related to arm edema, limited shoulder motion, and shoulder pain. The extent to which factors such as surgery, radiotherapy, systemic therapy, and patient characteristics affect development of arm edema, limited shoulder motion, and shoulder pain is not well documented. We undertook a prospective study of arm edema, limited shoulder motion, and shoulder pain in every patient (N = 331) seen during a 6-month period for follow-up after radiotherapy postlumpectomy or mastectomy for primary breast cancer. Local treatment included lumpectomy and breast irradiation with (n = 232) or without (n = 97) axillary dissection. Ten other women underwent mastectomy and postoperative radiotherapy. Doses to each region treated were 50 Gy in 25 fractions. The operative area was treated with an additional 1,000 Gy in approximately 60% of patients. Twelve patients received axillary irradiation without axillary dissection, and 11 patients received supraclavicular irradiation. Chemotherapy with or without tamoxifen was used in 71 patients and tamoxifen alone was used in 150 patients. One hundred ten patients did not receive any adjuvant therapy. Ipsilateral arm edema occurred in 20 women (6.0%), limited ipsilateral shoulder motion in 5 (1.5%), and ipsilateral shoulder pain in 5 (1.5%). Edema was mild (1+) in 15 patients and moderate (2+) in five patients. Multivariate analysis revealed that the risk of arm edema was significantly increased in black women (p = 0.005, 4/18 versus 16/313 whites) and with mastectomy (p = 0.048, 2/10 versus 18/321 with lumpectomy). There is a low incidence of arm edema, decreased range of motion of the ipsilateral shoulder, and shoulder-arm pain in patients undergoing postlumpectomy or postmastectomy radiotherapy. The risk of arm edema is increased in black women and in patients after mastectomy as opposed to lumpectomy.
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PMID:Shoulder and arm problems after radiotherapy for primary breast cancer. 1131 94

Arm pain is a complication following breast cancer surgery. This study examined the impact of breast surgery on the mechanosensitivity of upper quadrant neural tissues based on responses to a clinical provocation test. The responses of twenty patients to the ULTT 2a were recorded pre-operatively and six weeks post-operatively in terms of the available range of glenohumeral abduction and the area, nature and intensity of symptoms. The results indicated that there was a tendency towards increased neural tissue mechanosensitivity post-surgically, judged by a significant reduction in glenohumeral abduction range and a variance in symptoms in the operated arm. Unexpectedly, range of abduction reduced bilaterally suggesting that central as well as peripheral mechanisms may be involved in this response.
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PMID:Breast surgery and neural tissue mechanosensitivity. 1167 10

Postmastectomy pain syndrome (PMPS) is a neuropathic pain syndrome that may develop following breast surgery. Venlafaxine has been shown to be efficacious in the management of PMPS. The preemptive administration of venlafaxine has been shown to be efficacious in reducing the incidence of neuropathic pain in the rat model. We examined the efficacy of administering either venlafaxine or placebo for two weeks starting the night before surgery to 100 patients scheduled for either partial or radical mastectomy with axillary dissection. Patients were administered PCA morphine for the first 24 hours following surgery and then acetaminophen/oxycodone tablets. Pain scores were recorded at rest and movement on day 1, at 1 month, and at 6 months after surgery. At 6 months postoperatively, the presence of pain in the chest, arm, and axilla; edema; decreased sensation in the operative area; and phantom breast pain were recorded. There was no difference in postoperative opioid use. Pain scores with movement were lower in the venlafaxine group at 6 months. Pain scores at all other time intervals were similar. There was a significant decrease in the incidence of chest wall pain (55% vs. 19%, P = 0.0002), arm pain (45% vs. 17%, P = 0.003), and axilla pain (51% vs. 19%, P = 0.0009) between the control group and the venlafaxine group, respectively. No significant differences were noted between the two groups with regard to edema, phantom pain, or sensory changes. We conclude that the perioperative administration of venlafaxine beginning the night prior to surgery significantly reduces the incidence of PMPS following breast cancer surgery.
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PMID:Evaluation of efficacy of the perioperative administration of venlafaxine XR in the prevention of postmastectomy pain syndrome. 1942 87

The aim of this systematic review was to identify the prevalence and severity of upper limb problems following surgery and radiation for early breast cancer. Additionally, the independent prognostic contribution of radiation, type of breast surgery, type of axillary surgery, age and body mass index (BMI) was evaluated. Searches of electronic databases were conducted to identify articles that reported upper limb and quality of life outcomes after breast cancer surgery and external radiation. Eligible studies for prognosis were longitudinal in design, with > or =95% of patients treated by surgery and radiation that excluded the axilla. Cross-sectional studies were also included for identification of prognostic factors. Where possible, the contribution of independent prognostic factors was analyzed. The review identified 32 relevant studies. Shoulder restriction was reported in between <1% and 67% of participants, lymphedema was reported in between 0 and 34% of participants, shoulder/arm pain was reported in between 9 and 68% of participants and arm weakness was reported in between 9 and 28% of participants. Quality of life was high across studies. Irradiated patients had slightly increased odds of lymphedema (OR = 1.46, 95% CI 1.16-1.84) and shoulder restriction (OR = 1.67, 95% CI 0.98-2.86) compared with non-irradiated patients. For patients undergoing surgery and radiation for breast cancer, the prognosis is good in terms of the upper limb and quality of life. Radiation that excludes the axilla does not appear to be a strong prognostic indicator of adverse upper limb outcomes.
Breast Cancer Res Treat 2008 Jul
PMID:Prognosis of the upper limb following surgery and radiation for breast cancer. 1789 73

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE. Many breast cancer survivors (BCS) suffer from long-term upper limb morbidities after axillary node dissection. The purpose of this five-year follow-up study was to describe changes in long-term upper limb morbidities, physical activity level, and Health-Related Quality of Life (HRQoL) and to find factors that predict HRQoL five years after surgery. PATIENTS AND METHODS. This study included 204 women aged 55+/-10 years who had primary breast cancer surgery with axillary node dissection. The subjects were examined for arm volumes and arm lymphedema, arm pain, sensation of heaviness, shoulder function, physical activity level, and HRQoL, prior to surgery, and six months and five years after surgery. The statistical analyses used included ANOVA for repeated measures and multivariate linear regression. RESULTS. ALE (13%), pain (36%), and sensation of heaviness (21%) in the upper limbs were present five years after surgery. ALE was the only morbidity that continued to increase over time. Several dimensions of HRQoL temporarily declined after surgery, but significantly improved in the period from six months to five years after surgery. The significant predictive factors of HRQoL five years after surgery included HRQoL prior to surgery, physical activity level at leisure time (both prior to and at six months after surgery), and duration of sick leave after surgery (in weeks). CONCLUSIONS. The overall HRQoL improved significantly from baseline to five years, despite the chronic arm pain and increase in ALE. Three independent predictive factors of HRQoL were identified.
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PMID:Changes in arm morbidities and health-related quality of life after breast cancer surgery - a five-year follow-up study. 1986 18

Each year over 20,000 Canadian women are diagnosed with breast cancer. Many breast cancer survivors anticipate a considerable number of years of potential participation in the paid labour market, therefore, the link between breast cancer survivorship and productivity deserves serious consideration. The hypothesis guiding this study is that arm morbidities such as lymphedema, pain, and range of motion limitations are important explanatory variables in survivors' loss of productivity. The study draws from a larger longitudinal research project involving over 600 breast cancer survivors in four geographical locations across Canada. The study's regression results indicate that, after adjusting for fatigue, breast cancer stage, and geographical location, survivors with range of motion limitations and arm pain are more than two and half times as likely to lose some productivity capacity as compared to counterparts with no arm morbidity. The findings make a compelling argument for the necessity of adequate rehabilitation programs delivered at crucial times in breast cancer survivors' recovery. The study's unexpected finding that geographical location is a highly significant predictor of changes in productivity among breast cancer survivors is interpreted as a factor of the regulatory framework governing employment relationships in the four different jurisdictions.
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PMID:The impact of breast cancer among Canadian women: disability and productivity. 2003 43


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