Abstract GS5-03: Risk of arm morbidity after local therapy in young breast cancer survivors
Authors: Kuijer A , Dominici LS , Rosenberg SM , Hu J , Gelber S , Di Lascio S , Ruddy KJ , Wong J , Tamimi RM , Schapira L , Borges VF , Come SE , Sprunck-Harrild K , Partridge AH , King TA 
Published: February 2018

BACKGROUND: Arm morbidity, the most reported comorbidity following axillary surgery for breast cancer, is of particular importance in young patients given the longer survivorship period and detrimental effects of arm-morbidity on body image and social-, home- and personal care functions. We assessed the incidence of arm-morbidity stratified by local therapy strategies in young women enrolled in the Young Women's Breast Cancer Study (YWS).

PATIENTS AND METHODS: The YWS, a multicenter prospective cohort study, established to explore biological, medical and psychosocial issues in young breast cancer patients, enrolled 1302 women with stage 0-4 breast cancer ≤40 years of age from October 2006 to June 2016. For this analysis, we examined incidence of patient reported arm-swelling or decreased range of motion (ROM) 1-year after diagnosis using relevant items of the CARES-SF. Patients with stage 4 disease (n = 60), those for whom no information on arm-morbidity was available (n=198) and those with bilateral cancer with different local therapy strategies on each side (n=7), were excluded. We performed logistic regression analyses to identify risk factors for arm morbidity.

RESULTS: Among 1037 patients (median age 37 years), 13% and 40% reported arm-swelling or decreased ROM, respectively, in the ipsilateral arm at 1-year. 52% (n=539) of patients underwent SLNB and 39% (n=407) ALND. The incidence of arm-swelling was 4% (11/280) in patients who underwent SLNB without RT, 8% (21/252) in patients who underwent SLNB with RT, 20% (13/66) in patients who underwent ALND without RT and 24% (84/337) in patients who received ALND with RT. The incidence of decreased ROM was 21% (59) in patients who underwent SLNB without RT, 34% (86) in patients who underwent SLNB with RT, 33% (22) in patients who underwent ALND without RT and 44% (148) in patients who received ALND with RT. Being overweight, uncomfortable financial status, T4 tumors, ALND and RT were independently associated with an increased risk of arm-swelling. Overweight, mastectomy and RT were independently associated with an increased risk of a decreased ROM

Table 1). Results of the logistic regression analyses. Arm swelling at 1 year (n=137)Decreased ROM at 1 year (n=335) ORpORpBMI    &lt;18.50.70.620.70.4018.5-24.9ref ref 25-29.91.70.031.50.05≥301.10.791.10.70Financial comfort    Comfortableref ref Uncomfortable0.60.020.90.67pT stage    pT1ref ref pT21.20.621.50.13pT31.20.701.30.63pT44.40.032.20.29pN stage    pN0ref ref pN11.10.851.70.08pN23.00.111.90.27pN33.20.112.70.16Surgery    BCSref ref Mastectomy1.20.611.80.02Bilateral mastectomy1.10.841.60.06Axillary surgery    SLNBref ref SLNB + ALND3&lt;0.011.30.33ALND3.6&lt;0.011.00.90RT    Noref ref Yes1.80.052.4&lt;0.01Note. In these analysis we also corrected for age, incidence year, employment status, stage of disease, reconstructive surgery, and chemotherapy treatment.

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CONCLUSION: Patient reported outcomes reveal high rates of arm-swelling and decreased ROM 1 year after breast cancer diagnosis in a large prospective cohort of young breast cancer survivors. These findings suggest an opportunity for pre-operative education and early intervention for arm impairment in this population.

Citation Format: Kuijer A, Dominici LS, Rosenberg SM, Hu J, Gelber S, Di Lascio S, Ruddy KJ, Wong J, Tamimi RM, Schapira L, Borges VF, Come SE, Sprunck-Harrild K, Partridge AH, King TA. Risk of arm morbidity after local therapy in young breast cancer survivors [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 2017 San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium; 2017 Dec 5-9; San Antonio, TX. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2018;78(4 Suppl):Abstract nr GS5-03.