Analysis of the Knowledge of women after mastectomy About Lymphedema

Abstract

Introduction: Breast cancer is one of the most frequently diagnosed malignancies among women. One of the treatment methods is mastectomy, the most common complication of which is lymphedema of the upper limb on the operated side. Aim: To assess the knowledge of post-mastectomy women about risk factors for lymphedema. To obtain information on the source of obtaining knowledge of women after mastectomy surgery on lymphedema prevention. To evaluate the most effective physiotherapeutic interventions used in lymphedema prevention according to women after mastectomy. Material and method: The study was conducted among 30 women aged 50-88 years affiliated with the Lodz Amazon Club Association. A questionnaire of our own authorship was used in the study. Results: According to the knowledge of the respondents, the most known factors causing lymphedema were (in order): overloading the upper limb on the operated side (56.6%), drawing blood from the upper limb on the operated side (40%), measuring blood pressure on the upper limb on the operated side (33.3%), not using self-massage of the upper limb on the operated side (33.3%). The volunteers of the Łódź Amazon Club Association (54.8%), physiotherapists (28.6%), physicians (9.5%), and information obtained from the internet (7.1%). The most ef f ective antiedematous physiotherapeutic procedures were: manual lymphatic drainage (42.6%), self-massage (34%), mechanical lymphatic drainage (10.6%), compression therapy (8.5%), dif f erent forms of kinesitherapy (4.3%). Conclusions: Women after mastectomy do not have adequate knowledge of the risk factors for upper limb lymphedema on the operated side. The sources of information concerning the prevention of upper limb lymphoedema on the operated side are (in order): the volunteers of the Lodz Amazon Club Association, physiotherapists, doctors, information from the internet. According to the women after mastectomy, the most effective physiotherapeutic procedures for prevention of lymphedema of the upper limb on the operated side are various forms of massage, including: manual lymphatic drainage, self-massage, mechanical lymphatic drainage.