SAN ANTONIO – Long-term upper-extremity pain and functional impairment following breast cancer surgery are reduced by an innovative physical therapy–centered surveillance program, according to a 5-year prospective study.
The program was developed at the breast care center of Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, Bethesda, Md. It begins with a preoperative patient interview and structured evaluation by a physical therapist. The assessment includes what physical therapists call an upper-quarter screen, which evaluates shoulder range of motion, strength, and arm volume. Self-reported pain, fatigue, function, and activity level are recorded.
At that time, the patient is also instructed in a home exercise program she is to start 2 weeks post surgery. These are simple range-of-motion exercises focused on forward flexion overhead; abduction; internal and external rotation of the glenohumeral joint; and scapular retraction, Nicole L. Stout explained at the San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium.
The patient is subsequently seen by the physical therapist (in conjunction with her regular follow-up visits with an oncologist or surgeon) at 1, 3, 6, 9, 12, and 60 months post surgery. If upper-extremity dysfunction worsens, more intensive interventions are introduced.
The rationale for this prospective surveillance program lies in an understanding that the shoulder and arm impairments caused by breast cancer surgery and radiation therapy are typically subtle initially, but if left unidentified and uncorrected, they often progress to serious rotator cuff damage, "frozen" shoulder, and debilitating lymphedema, according to Ms. Stout, a civilian research physical therapist at the military center.
She had previously presented her 1-year prospective outcomes. This time around, she presented prospective 5-year follow-up data on 86 breast cancer patients who participated in the program. This is the first prospective cohort study in the United States to track breast cancer–related upper-extremity morbidity and functional outcomes for this long a time period.
The 12-month and 5-year visits included formal assessment of upper-extremity outcomes using the Harvard Alumni Activity Survey, the Upper Limb Disability Questionnaire, and the Short Form-36.
At 5 years, 11% of the women had stage I/II lymphedema and 38% had subclinical lymphedema (defined as less than 3% arm volume swelling as measured by a Perometer). These results compare favorably with those of published studies on lymphedema, which have reported long-term rates of stage I-III arm swelling in the 40%-60% range, she noted.
In all, 18% of patients reported arm numbness at 5 years, 17% noted shoulder pain, 3% had neck pain, and 1% had chest wall pain.
One-third of subjects reported fatigue of level 3 or more on a 10-point visual analog scale. Again, other investigators have documented long-term rates of clinically significant fatigue in the 50%-60% range.
At 5 years post surgery, patients demonstrated less impairment of physical activity than at preoperative baseline. At baseline, 33% had significant limitations in terms of carrying heavy objects, performing household chores, and other physical activities. After 5 years of prospective surveillance and tailored physical therapy, only 20% of patients had physical activity limitations.
However, 68% of patients reported experiencing some restrictions on their social activity at 5 years, and 52% experienced limitations on their recreational activities.
The study was funded by the medical center. Ms. Stout declared having no financial conflicts of interest.