ATTENTION/WARNING - NE PAS DÉPOSER ICI/DO NOT SUBMIT HERE

Ceci est la version de TEST de DIAL.mem. Veuillez ne pas soumettre votre mémoire sur ce site mais bien à l'URL suivante: 'https://thesis.dial.uclouvain.be'.
This is the TEST version of DIAL.mem. Please use the following URL to submit your master thesis: 'https://thesis.dial.uclouvain.be'.
 

The effect of a complex decongestive therapy after breast cancer-related lymphedema on volume and quality of life: the influence of body mass index

Meseeuw, Chloé
(2022)

Files

Meseeuw_Chloé_24571600_2021-2022.pdf
  • UCLouvain restricted access
  • Adobe PDF
  • 1.19 MB

Details

Supervisors
Deltombe, Thierry ; Frippiat, Jacqueline
Faculty
Faculté des sciences de la motricité
Degree label
Master [60] en kinésithérapie et réadaptation
Abstract
Introduction: Breast cancer is the second leading cause of death in the world. After diagnosis, patients usually need to undergo surgery combined with axillary lymph node dissection (ALND) or sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB), radiation therapy and/or chemotherapy. In many cases, breast cancer related lymphedema (BCRL) appears affecting the patient’s quality of life. One of the BCRL risk factors is a high body mass index (BMI). The aim of this study was to assess the influence of an intensive complete decongestive therapy (CDT) on the volume and quality of life in patients with BCRL and to evaluate the correlation between BMI and arm volume. Materials and methods: The recording of 390 intensive CDT performed between April 2018 and October 2020 at the CHU UCL Namur Lymphoedema Reference Center in 121 patients suffering from BCRL were retrospectively reviewed. Results: After CDT, the BCRL volume decreased and the quality of life improved. The absolute and relative volume difference were similar in obese and nonobese participants. There was no statistically significant effect of BMI on the volume loss between the two arms. Discussion: Intensive CDT decreases BCRL volume allowing to improve quality of life. The BMI does not influence the amount of excess volume between arms and the response to CDT treatment. Conclusion: This study confirms the positive impact of CDT on BCRL volume and related quality of life. The BMI does not influence the volume reduction.