Breast Swelling and Chest Wall Swelling as a Symptom Cluster Associated With Emotional Distress in Women with Breast Cancer-Related Lymphedema.

OBJECTIVE

To explore the emotional health of women with breast cancer-related lymphedema, focusing on the symptom cluster of breast swelling and chest wall swelling.

DESIGN

A descriptive correlational design was used for this secondary analysis.

SETTING

Patients were recruited from a breast cancer center in New York City.

PARTICIPANTS

Women aged 21 years and older were recruited after initial breast cancer treatment. A sample size of 568 participants participated in the original study. The secondary analysis included 57 participants with breast swelling and chest wall swelling.

METHODS

The Breast Cancer and Lymphedema Symptom Experience Index plus demographic information were collected. Four groups were created including the symptom cluster group of breast swelling and chest wall swelling for comparison. Parametric and nonparametric tests, such as descriptive statistics, chi-square, and Kruskal-Wallis H tests, were used to assess the data.

RESULTS

Results revealed a 10% prevalence of the symptom cluster among participants. The median score on the emotional distress subscale was 9 out of 48. The emotional health of those with the symptom cluster showed a significant difference compared to those without the cluster.

CONCLUSION

These findings underscore the emotional distress burden associated with this symptom cluster, offering insights for the future development of targeted interventions and supportive care for affected individuals.