Racial disparity in breast cancer survivorship: themes from a series of four national healthcare provider live virtual forums.

Purpose: Significant disparity exists in the diagnosis, treatment, and survivorship outcomes among Black breast cancer (BC) survivors. Black BC survivors have more significant survivorship issues and a greater burden of illness than White counterparts. Barriers to rehabilitation exist for all BC survivors but are magnified in Black BC survivors.

Update to the Canadian clinical practice guideline for best-practice management of breast cancer-related lymphedema: study protocol.

Background: One of the more frequent complications following treatment for breast cancer, lymphedema is a substantial swelling of the arm, breast and chest wall that occurs on the side where lymph nodes were removed. The aim of this work is to update recommendations on the prevention, diagnosis and management of lymphedema related to breast cancer.

Methods: We present the protocol for an update of the 2001 clinical practice guideline on lymphedema from the Steering Committee for Clinical Practice Guidelines for the Care and Treatment of Breast Cancer.

An infrared 3D scanning device as a novel limb volume measurement tool in breast cancer patients.

Background: Lymphedema is a common complication of breast cancer treatment that affects one in five breast cancer survivors, yet there is no reliable method to detect lymphedema in the subclinical range. The objective of this study was to determine the feasibility and reliability of using an infrared 3D scanning device (ISD) as a peri-operative limb volume measurement tool.

Methods: Fifteen patients were analyzed based on inclusion criteria.

Assessing Arm Volume in People During and After Treatment for Breast Cancer: Reliability and Convergent Validity of the LymphaTech System.

Background: There are challenges related to the accurate and efficient measurement of lymphedema in people with breast cancer. The LymphaTech 3D Imaging System (LymphaTech, Atlanta, GA, USA) is a mobile, noninvasive platform that provides limb geometry measurements.

Objective: The objective of this study was to estimate the reliability and validity of the LymphaTech for measuring arm volume in the context of women seeking care in a specialty breast cancer rehabilitation clinic.

Estimating the Reliability and Validity of the Upper Extremity Functional Index in Women After Breast Cancer Surgery.

Background: Activity limitations as well as impairments such as pain, numbness, limitation of shoulder range of motion, and weakness are common and well documented during and after treatment for breast cancer. There is limited information regarding the measurement properties of patient-reported outcome measures of upper extremity activity limitation in this population. This study examined the reliability and validity of the Upper Extremity Functional Index (UEFI) in patients after surgery for breast cancer.

Implementing the Prospective Surveillance Model (PSM) of Rehabilitation for Breast Cancer Patients with 1-Year Postoperative Follow-up, a Prospective, Observational Study.

Background: The Prospective Surveillance Model (PSM) of rehabilitation for patients with breast cancer aims for early identification, treatment, and support of physical impairments postoperatively. The purpose of this study was to describe the incidence of impairments during the first postoperative year and the differences between the patients requiring rehabilitation intervention versus those not requiring intervention.

Methods: A total of 120 patients were enrolled.

Stakeholder perspectives on dissemination and implementation of a prospective surveillance model of rehabilitation for breast cancer treatment.

The prospective surveillance model proposes a paradigm shift in the delivery of care for patients with breast cancer. The model is based on clinical research and clinical practice experience that was reviewed and discussed at a multidisciplinary meeting. The model identifies critical physical sequelae of treatment as well as timeframes for identification of and surveillance for these issues.

A prospective model of care for breast cancer rehabilitation: function.

A significant proportion of adult breast cancer survivors experience deficits in function and restriction in participation in life roles that may remain many years after diagnosis. Function is a complex construct that takes into account the interactions between an individual, their health condition, and the social and personal context in which they live. Research to date on limitations in activities of daily living, upper extremity function, and functional capacity in breast cancer survivors illustrates the need for prospective measurement of function using measures that are sensitive to the unique issues of breast cancer survivors and the need for the development of effective rehabilitation interventions to improve function.

A prospective model of care for breast cancer rehabilitation: postoperative and postreconstructive issues.

Appropriate and timely rehabilitation is vital in the recovery from breast cancer surgeries, including breast conserving surgery, mastectomy, axillary lymph node dissection (ALND), and breast reconstruction. This article describes the incidence, prevalence, risk factors and time course for early postoperative effects and the role of prospective surveillance as a rehabilitation strategy to prevent and mitigate them. The most common early postoperative effects include wound issues such as cellulitis, flap necrosis, abscess, dehiscence, hematoma, and seroma.

Patient perspectives on breast cancer treatment side effects and the prospective surveillance model for physical rehabilitation for women with breast cancer.

Women's experience of breast cancer is complex, affecting all aspects of life during and after treatment. Patients' perspectives about common impairments and functional limitations secondary to breast cancer treatment, including upper extremity motion restriction, lymphedema, fatigue, weight gain, pain, and chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy, are addressed. Women often report being uninformed regarding these side effects and surprised that they do not always disappear after treatment, but remain part of their lives.

A prospective surveillance model for rehabilitation for women with breast cancer.

Background: The current model of care for individuals with breast cancer focuses on treatment of the disease, followed by ongoing surveillance to detect recurrence. This approach lacks attention to patients' physical and functional well-being. Breast cancer treatment sequelae can lead to physical impairments and functional limitations.