Prevalence and Quality of Life in Patients with Lymphoedema following Axillary Clearance for Breast and Cutaneous Malignancies

Abstract

Lymphoedema is a potential adversity following axillary clearance, which is frequently performed in the setting of surgery for breast cancer or cutaneous malignancies of the upper limb. Often underestimated, lymphoedema can lead to debilitating symptoms which may decrease overall health-related quality of life. A retrospective cohort study was undertaken on 73 patients who underwent axillary clearance for breast and cutaneous malignancies from 2011 to 2021 at a tertiary centre in Melbourne, Australia. Bilateral upper limb circumference measurement was used to identify the prevalence of lymphoedema in this population. The lymphoedema quality of life (LYMQOL) questionnaire was used to assess the patient’s quality of life. Of 73 patients, 42 (58%) had lymphoedema; 33 (45%) were clinically detected as part of the study, and 9 were diagnosed with lymphoedema prior to our study. Patients with lymphoedema (n = 42) reported worse scores in all LYMQOL domains and the overall quality of life, but only the ‘appearance’ domain showed statistically significant differences in our cohort. These results demonstrate a substantial post-axillary clearance lymphoedema prevalence, without significant impacts on quality of life.