The Change Quality of Life Patients with Upper Limb Lymphedema after the Breast Carcinoma Surgery

Introduction: Frequent co-morbidity of breast cancer therapy resides in lymphedema due to insufficient drainage of lymphatic fluid from the adjacent upper limb. In addition to mobility restrictions, it also adversely affects the quality of life of patients. An effective therapeutic tool is lymphatic drainage techniques suitably supported by vascular gymnastics and limb bandaging. Objective: In our study, we examined the effect of lymph drainage techniques on the extent of lymphedema and the subjective perception of patients' quality of life. Methods and methodology: The subjective perception of the quality of life of patients was verified using a questionnaire in a defined period. Respondents were patients after the treatment of breast cancer followed by lymphedema indicating lymph drainage techniques. A total of 126 respondents were surveyed, 59 had mild lymphedema, 41 had moderate lymphedema, and 17 had lymphedema, 9 were not specified in lymphedema. Results: Differences in female quality of life are statistically significant affected by the three stages of lymphedema severity before lymphadenopathy. (P < 0.001), hygiene (p < 0.001), food preparation (p < 0.001); domestic work (p < 0.001); shopping (p < 0.001). A certain trend, albeit statistically at the limit of marginal significance was also apparent in the case of walking (p < 0.09). The rate of improvement was directly proportional to the severity of lymphedema prior to initiation of therapy (p < 0.001). Conclusion: In our study, we verified the high effectiveness of lymph drainage techniques in lymphedema therapy as well as increasing the subjective perception of patients' quality of life.