Early surveillance is associated with less incidence and severity of breast cancer-related lymphedema compared with a traditional referral model of care.

Background: Bioimpedance spectroscopy (BIS) has enabled the early identification of breast cancer-related lymphedema. In this study, differences in health service metrics and in the incidence of breast cancer-related lymphedema are evaluated in an early surveillance model of care compared with a traditional referral model of care.

Methods: In a retrospective analysis of data from 753 women who underwent BIS measures between January 1, 2007 and December 31, 2016, 188 women were assigned to the "early surveillance" group if they began lymphedema monitoring presurgery (n = 121) or within 90 days postsurgery (n = 67), and 285 women were assigned to the "traditional referral" group if they began monitoring after 90 days postsurgery.

What Would Women Choose When Given a Choice in Breast Reconstruction?

Unlabelled: Reconstruction after mastectomy is an important milestone for many women treated for breast cancer. However, because many surgeons only offer their preferred method of reconstruction, it is not clear which approach women would choose if offered a genuine choice.

Methods: Between 1998 and 2010, the breast reconstruction service at a major Australian teaching hospital was staffed by a single plastic surgeon trained in both prosthetic and autologous breast reconstruction techniques.

Reducing Decisional Conflict and Enhancing Satisfaction with Information among Women Considering Breast Reconstruction following Mastectomy: Results from the BRECONDA Randomized Controlled Trial.

Background: Deciding whether or not to have breast reconstruction following breast cancer diagnosis is a complex decision process. This randomized controlled trial assessed the impact of an online decision aid [Breast RECONstruction Decision Aid (BRECONDA)] on breast reconstruction decision-making.

Methods: Women (n = 222) diagnosed with breast cancer or ductal carcinoma in situ, and eligible for reconstruction following mastectomy, completed an online baseline questionnaire.

"You're naked, you're vulnerable": Sexual well-being and body image of women with lower limb lymphedema.

Lower-limb lymphedema is an incurable illness manifesting as visible swelling enlarging the leg(s) and/or feet, buttocks, and genitals. This study used semi-structured interviews and thematic analysis to explore sexual well-being among women with primary (congenital) lymphedema (n=11) or secondary lymphedema associated with gynecological cancer (n=8). Five themes (subthemes) summarized women's responses, with Attractiveness and Confidence (Publicly Unattractive, Privately Unconfident, Lymphedema or Aging?) describing women's central concern.

Liposuction for Advanced Lymphedema: A Multidisciplinary Approach for Complete Reduction of Arm and Leg Swelling.

Purpose: This research describes and evaluates a liposuction surgery and multidisciplinary rehabilitation approach for advanced lymphedema of the upper and lower extremities.

Methods: A prospective clinical study was conducted at an Advanced Lymphedema Assessment Clinic (ALAC) comprised of specialists in plastic surgery, rehabilitation, imaging, oncology, and allied health, at Macquarie University, Australia. Between May 2012 and 31 May 2014, a total of 104 patients attended the ALAC.

Sexual concerns of women diagnosed with breast cancer-related lymphedema.

Purpose: Lymphedema is a common side effect of breast cancer treatment that may negatively impact on a woman's physical and psychological well-being. This study aimed to understand the impact of breast cancer-related lymphedema on women's sexual functioning, and to identify key concerns of these women regarding sexual issues.

Methods: Purposive sampling recruited 17 women aged 38-67 years with mild to severe lymphedema.

Toward the breast screening balance sheet: cumulative risk of false positives for annual versus biennial mammograms commencing at age 40 or 50.

This study aimed to: (1) Estimate cumulative risk of recall from breast screening where no cancer is detected (a harm) in Australia; (2) Compare women screened annually versus biennially, commencing age 40 versus 50; and (3) Compare with international findings. At the no-cost metropolitan program studied, women attended biennial screening, but were offered annual screening if regarded at elevated risk for breast cancer. The cumulative risk of at least one recall was estimated using discrete-time survival analysis.

Psychological distress and streamlined BreastScreen follow-up assessment versus standard assessment.

Objectives: To establish whether altered protocol characteristics of streamlined StepDown breast assessment clinics heightened or reduced the psychological distress of women in attendance compared with standard assessment. Willingness to attend future screening was also compared between the assessment groups.

Design: Observational, prospective study of women attending either a mammogram-only StepDown or a standard breast assessment clinic.