Mild symptoms matter: Results from a prospective, longitudinal study on the relationship between symptoms, lymphedema and health-related outcomes post-gynecological cancer
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Rye, Sheree
Jones, Tamara
Vagenas, Dimitrios
Ward, Leigh
Janda, Monika
Obermair, Andreas
Hayes, Sandra C
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Objectives: To describe lower-limb symptoms pre- through to 2-years post-surgery following newly diagnosed gynecological cancer; to explore relationships between lower-limb symptoms, lower-limb lymphedema, body image, quality of life, anxiety and depression; and to determine whether lower-limb symptoms predict lower-limb lymphedema. Methods: Fourteen lower-limb symptoms, lymphedema, body image, anxiety, depression, and quality of life were prospectively collected in 408 women with gynecological cancer pre-surgery, and at 6-, 12-, and 24-months post-surgery. Point prevalence and cumulative incidence were calculated for symptoms. Cross-sectional relationships were explored between symptoms, lower-limb lymphedema and health-related outcomes at all timepoints, while regression analyses were used to assess the predictive relationships between lower-limb symptoms at 6-months post-surgery, and lymphedema at 12- and 24-months post-surgery. Results: Participants were on average 59 (SD: 11) years of age, and 58 %, 28 %, 9 % and 5 % were diagnosed with endometrial, ovarian, cervical, and vulvar/vaginal cancer, respectively. Prevalence of any given lower limb symptom among all cancer types ranged between 11 and 59 %, with the most prevalent symptoms being pain, stiffness, and aching (prevalence >40 % across all time-points). The presence of symptoms was associated with higher anxiety and depression, poorer overall quality of life and body image (p < 0.01). Compared to those without symptoms, one or more lower limb symptoms of at least mild severity increased the odds of developing lymphedema up to 24 months post-surgery (OR > 1.3). Conclusions: Self-reported symptoms are associated with adverse health-related outcomes. Assessment and management of symptoms, irrespective of symptom severity, has potential for improving health outcomes, including lymphedema, in those following gynecological cancer.
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Gynecologic Oncology
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191
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© 2024 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Inc. This is an open access article under the CC BY license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/).
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Plinsinga, ML; Rye, S; Jones, T; Vagenas, D; Ward, L; Janda, M; Obermair, A; Hayes, SC, Mild symptoms matter: Results from a prospective, longitudinal study on the relationship between symptoms, lymphedema and health-related outcomes post-gynecological cancer, Gynecologic Oncology, 2024, 191, pp. 158-164