Page No.319-329
Srinivasan Vijay, Madhavan Sasidharan Satish, Sridevi and Surendran Veeraiah
Cancer Institute (WIA), Adyar Chennai
Breast Cancer cancer-related lymphedema (BCRL) is debilitating morbidity among
breast cancer survivors affecting functional outcomes and quality of life. Physiotherapeutic
intervention includes complete decongestive therapy (CDT) and sequential Pneumatic
Compression therapy (SPCT) are acclaimed to improve arm circumference, functional
ability and Quality of Life (QOL) of the survivors. This study aimed to ascertain the
effectiveness of sequential pneumatic compression (SPCT) therapy, complete
decongestive therapy on lymphedema, functional outcomes, pain, and QOL of breast
cancer survivors. A total of 30 women aged between 18 to 72 years with secondary
upper extremity lymphedema after mastectomy following breast cancer were included
in the study. After the initial assessment, patients were randomly the group treated
with CDT, and another group received SPCT. Lymphedema volume was measured by
circumferential measurement, shoulder range of motion was measured using Norkin’s
goniometry, and pain was measured using VAS pain scale. The quality of life was
assessed byEORTC QLQ-C30 and breast cancer-specific quality of life questionnaire
(EORTC QLQ-Br23).The collected data were organized, tabulated, and statistically
analysed using SPSS software.
Following rehabilitation by physiotherapy, there was a decrease in the circumference
of the affected limb, an increase in functional outcomes, and an improvement on certain
QoL dimensions. The results indicate that sequential pneumatic compression therapy
and complete decongestive therapy provide optimum results in treating BCRL