Prevalence of lymphedema symptoms across cancer diagnoses and association with depression, pain interference and health-related quality of life
Background and purpose: Lymphedema is a debilitating late effect of cancer treatments, yet its prevalence beyond breast cancer remains understudied. This study examined the prevalence of lymphedema symptoms across cancer diagnoses and their association with depression, pain interference, and health-...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Medical Journals Sweden
2025-01-01
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| Series: | Acta Oncologica |
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| Online Access: | https://medicaljournalssweden.se/actaoncologica/article/view/42203 |
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| author | Gitte Sone Larsen Christoffer Johansen Annika von Heymann Bolette Skjødt Rafn |
| author_facet | Gitte Sone Larsen Christoffer Johansen Annika von Heymann Bolette Skjødt Rafn |
| author_sort | Gitte Sone Larsen |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Background and purpose: Lymphedema is a debilitating late effect of cancer treatments, yet its prevalence beyond breast cancer remains understudied. This study examined the prevalence of lymphedema symptoms across cancer diagnoses and their association with depression, pain interference, and health-related quality of life (HRQoL).
Patients/Material and methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted at the Department of Oncology, Copenhagen University Hospital, from February to April 2021, as part of a broader investigation into cancer-related late effects. Here, we present data from patients in follow-up who received online lymphedema symptom assesments (swelling, heaviness, or tightness). Utilized questionnaires were the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Questionnaire, the Major Depression Inventory, and the Brief Pain Inventory. Associations between lymphedema symptoms and depression, pain interference, and HRQoL were examined via multiple linear regression.
Results: Of 1,901 patients in follow-up who received the lymphedema symptom items, 1,296 responded. Most participants had breast cancer (48%), followed by testicular (17%), gynecological (16%), and head/neck cancer (11%). One-third (n = 397) reported lymphedema symptoms, with 38% (n = 152) reporting moderate/severe symptoms. The highest symptom prevalence was seen in gynecological cancer (59%), followed by head/neck (41%), breast (21%), and testicular cancer (19%). Participants with moderate/severe lymphedema symptoms were significantly more likely to report higher depression and pain interference scores and lower HRQoL scores compared to those with no/mild symptoms.
Interpretation: Lymphedema symptoms are highly prevalent among patients who have completed treatment for diverse cancers and associated with higher scores for depression and pain interference, and lower HRQoL
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| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-d5ec872328a041c4adf9a29027a661c7 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 1651-226X |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-01-01 |
| publisher | Medical Journals Sweden |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Acta Oncologica |
| spelling | doaj-art-d5ec872328a041c4adf9a29027a661c72025-01-22T06:25:50ZengMedical Journals SwedenActa Oncologica1651-226X2025-01-016410.2340/1651-226X.2025.42203Prevalence of lymphedema symptoms across cancer diagnoses and association with depression, pain interference and health-related quality of lifeGitte Sone Larsen0https://orcid.org/0009-0008-1347-9715Christoffer Johansen1https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4384-206XAnnika von Heymann2https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0900-5575Bolette Skjødt Rafn3https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8269-3100Danish Cancer Society National Cancer Survivorship and Late Effects Research Center (CASTLE), Department of Oncology, Copenhagen University Hospital Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen, DenmarkDanish Cancer Society National Cancer Survivorship and Late Effects Research Center (CASTLE), Department of Oncology, Copenhagen University Hospital Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen, DenmarkDanish Cancer Society National Cancer Survivorship and Late Effects Research Center (CASTLE), Department of Oncology, Copenhagen University Hospital Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen, DenmarkDanish Cancer Society National Cancer Survivorship and Late Effects Research Center (CASTLE), Department of Oncology, Copenhagen University Hospital Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen, DenmarkBackground and purpose: Lymphedema is a debilitating late effect of cancer treatments, yet its prevalence beyond breast cancer remains understudied. This study examined the prevalence of lymphedema symptoms across cancer diagnoses and their association with depression, pain interference, and health-related quality of life (HRQoL). Patients/Material and methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted at the Department of Oncology, Copenhagen University Hospital, from February to April 2021, as part of a broader investigation into cancer-related late effects. Here, we present data from patients in follow-up who received online lymphedema symptom assesments (swelling, heaviness, or tightness). Utilized questionnaires were the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Questionnaire, the Major Depression Inventory, and the Brief Pain Inventory. Associations between lymphedema symptoms and depression, pain interference, and HRQoL were examined via multiple linear regression. Results: Of 1,901 patients in follow-up who received the lymphedema symptom items, 1,296 responded. Most participants had breast cancer (48%), followed by testicular (17%), gynecological (16%), and head/neck cancer (11%). One-third (n = 397) reported lymphedema symptoms, with 38% (n = 152) reporting moderate/severe symptoms. The highest symptom prevalence was seen in gynecological cancer (59%), followed by head/neck (41%), breast (21%), and testicular cancer (19%). Participants with moderate/severe lymphedema symptoms were significantly more likely to report higher depression and pain interference scores and lower HRQoL scores compared to those with no/mild symptoms. Interpretation: Lymphedema symptoms are highly prevalent among patients who have completed treatment for diverse cancers and associated with higher scores for depression and pain interference, and lower HRQoL https://medicaljournalssweden.se/actaoncologica/article/view/42203cancer-related late-effectscancer survivorshipswellingheaviness |
| spellingShingle | Gitte Sone Larsen Christoffer Johansen Annika von Heymann Bolette Skjødt Rafn Prevalence of lymphedema symptoms across cancer diagnoses and association with depression, pain interference and health-related quality of life Acta Oncologica cancer-related late-effects cancer survivorship swelling heaviness |
| title | Prevalence of lymphedema symptoms across cancer diagnoses and association with depression, pain interference and health-related quality of life |
| title_full | Prevalence of lymphedema symptoms across cancer diagnoses and association with depression, pain interference and health-related quality of life |
| title_fullStr | Prevalence of lymphedema symptoms across cancer diagnoses and association with depression, pain interference and health-related quality of life |
| title_full_unstemmed | Prevalence of lymphedema symptoms across cancer diagnoses and association with depression, pain interference and health-related quality of life |
| title_short | Prevalence of lymphedema symptoms across cancer diagnoses and association with depression, pain interference and health-related quality of life |
| title_sort | prevalence of lymphedema symptoms across cancer diagnoses and association with depression pain interference and health related quality of life |
| topic | cancer-related late-effects cancer survivorship swelling heaviness |
| url | https://medicaljournalssweden.se/actaoncologica/article/view/42203 |
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