Lymphedema

[Hazelgreen]

jamanetwork.com/journals/ja...

STORY OF THE WEEK

Published in Oncology

Journal Scan / Research · July 17, 2022

Risk Factors and Racial and Ethnic Disparities in Patients With Breast Cancer–Related Lymphedema

JAMA Oncology

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This prospective cohort study assessed the risk factors for the development of breast cancer-related lymphedema (BCRL) after axillary lymph node dissection (ALND). Among the 304 patients enrolled, the 2-year BCRL rate was 23.8%. However, Black patients and patients of Hispanic ethnicity had a significantly higher risk of developing BRCL after ALND than White patients. Additionally, patients who received neoadjuvant chemotherapy had a higher risk of BRCL than those undergoing upfront surgery, whereas patients who had ERBB2-positive subtype breast cancer had a decreased risk of BRCL.

Further studies are needed to explore racial and ethnic differences in the development of BRCL after ALND in patients with breast cancer.

– Yael Kusne, MD, PhD

[OneLump22]

I don't know anything about these studies. I only know that I'm white (😱 OMG! I AM white! Sorry. Couldn't resist the Richard Pryor scene in See No Evil, Hear No Evil) & 57 & the surgeon who removed my R breast took 10 lymph nodes from my R underarm, I was supposed to do certain exercises 4×/day every day & I was doing them right up til the company handling my MLOA told me I'd run out of leave time & had to arrange to go back to work. I ended up on the night shift, ended up sleeping all day instead of doing my exercises and now I've developed lymphoedema in my R arm, hand, & underarm area & I'm stuck with wearing a compression sleeve & glove for the rest of my life. Did I mention I was white?