Prevalence and associations of axillary web syndrome in Asian women after breast cancer surgery undergoing a community-based cancer rehabilitation program
Abstract Background Patients who have breast cancer surgery are at risk of axillary web syndrome (AWS), an under-recognized postsurgical complication which can result in shoulder morbidity and functional impairment. Emerging studies have indicated that AWS may persist beyond the first few months aft...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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BMC
2021-09-01
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| Series: | BMC Cancer |
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12885-021-08762-z |
| _version_ | 1818718453831303168 |
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| author | Matthew Rong Jie Tay Chin Jung Wong Hui Zhen Aw |
| author_facet | Matthew Rong Jie Tay Chin Jung Wong Hui Zhen Aw |
| author_sort | Matthew Rong Jie Tay |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background Patients who have breast cancer surgery are at risk of axillary web syndrome (AWS), an under-recognized postsurgical complication which can result in shoulder morbidity and functional impairment. Emerging studies have indicated that AWS may persist beyond the first few months after surgery, although few studies have assessed the prevalence and association of AWS beyond a year after diagnosis. Therefore, the aim of this study was to investigate the prevalence and associations for AWS in post-operative breast cancer patients up to 3 years after surgery. Methods This cross sectional observational study was conducted at a community-based cancer rehabilitation center. Patients were evaluated for the presence of AWS via physical examination. Disease-related data was obtained from clinical review and medical records. Descriptive statistics were utilized to illustrate patient demographics and clinical characteristics. Logistic regression analyses were used to determine associations of AWS. Results There were 111 Asian women who were recruited, who had undergone breast surgery and were referred to a national outpatient rehabilitation center. The prevalence of AWS in this population was 28.9%. In the multivariate regression model, significant factors were age < 50 years (OR = 3.51; 95% CI = 1.12–11.0; p = 0.031) and ALND (OR = 6.54; 95% CI = 1.36–31.3; p = 0.019). There was reduced shoulder flexion ROM (p < 0.001) in patients with AWS compared to patients without AWS. Conclusions A high prevalence of AWS was reported in breast cancer survivors even at 3 years after breast surgery. Our findings highlight the need to identify breast cancer survivors with AWS even in the survivorship phase, and develop strategies to raise awareness and minimize functional impairment in these patients. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-17T19:51:18Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-66079a2245dd4954be51ba87f2d13934 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1471-2407 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-17T19:51:18Z |
| publishDate | 2021-09-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | BMC Cancer |
| spelling | doaj.art-66079a2245dd4954be51ba87f2d139342022-12-21T21:34:44ZengBMCBMC Cancer1471-24072021-09-012111710.1186/s12885-021-08762-zPrevalence and associations of axillary web syndrome in Asian women after breast cancer surgery undergoing a community-based cancer rehabilitation programMatthew Rong Jie Tay0Chin Jung Wong1Hui Zhen Aw2Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Tan Tock Seng HospitalDepartment of Rehabilitation Medicine, Tan Tock Seng HospitalSingapore Cancer Society Rehabilitation Center, Singapore Cancer SocietyAbstract Background Patients who have breast cancer surgery are at risk of axillary web syndrome (AWS), an under-recognized postsurgical complication which can result in shoulder morbidity and functional impairment. Emerging studies have indicated that AWS may persist beyond the first few months after surgery, although few studies have assessed the prevalence and association of AWS beyond a year after diagnosis. Therefore, the aim of this study was to investigate the prevalence and associations for AWS in post-operative breast cancer patients up to 3 years after surgery. Methods This cross sectional observational study was conducted at a community-based cancer rehabilitation center. Patients were evaluated for the presence of AWS via physical examination. Disease-related data was obtained from clinical review and medical records. Descriptive statistics were utilized to illustrate patient demographics and clinical characteristics. Logistic regression analyses were used to determine associations of AWS. Results There were 111 Asian women who were recruited, who had undergone breast surgery and were referred to a national outpatient rehabilitation center. The prevalence of AWS in this population was 28.9%. In the multivariate regression model, significant factors were age < 50 years (OR = 3.51; 95% CI = 1.12–11.0; p = 0.031) and ALND (OR = 6.54; 95% CI = 1.36–31.3; p = 0.019). There was reduced shoulder flexion ROM (p < 0.001) in patients with AWS compared to patients without AWS. Conclusions A high prevalence of AWS was reported in breast cancer survivors even at 3 years after breast surgery. Our findings highlight the need to identify breast cancer survivors with AWS even in the survivorship phase, and develop strategies to raise awareness and minimize functional impairment in these patients.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12885-021-08762-zCordingMondor’s diseaseBreast surgeryAxillary lymphadenectomyLymph node dissectionPost-operative morbidity |
| spellingShingle | Matthew Rong Jie Tay Chin Jung Wong Hui Zhen Aw Prevalence and associations of axillary web syndrome in Asian women after breast cancer surgery undergoing a community-based cancer rehabilitation program BMC Cancer Cording Mondor’s disease Breast surgery Axillary lymphadenectomy Lymph node dissection Post-operative morbidity |
| title | Prevalence and associations of axillary web syndrome in Asian women after breast cancer surgery undergoing a community-based cancer rehabilitation program |
| title_full | Prevalence and associations of axillary web syndrome in Asian women after breast cancer surgery undergoing a community-based cancer rehabilitation program |
| title_fullStr | Prevalence and associations of axillary web syndrome in Asian women after breast cancer surgery undergoing a community-based cancer rehabilitation program |
| title_full_unstemmed | Prevalence and associations of axillary web syndrome in Asian women after breast cancer surgery undergoing a community-based cancer rehabilitation program |
| title_short | Prevalence and associations of axillary web syndrome in Asian women after breast cancer surgery undergoing a community-based cancer rehabilitation program |
| title_sort | prevalence and associations of axillary web syndrome in asian women after breast cancer surgery undergoing a community based cancer rehabilitation program |
| topic | Cording Mondor’s disease Breast surgery Axillary lymphadenectomy Lymph node dissection Post-operative morbidity |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12885-021-08762-z |
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