Lymphoedema and health-related quality of life by early treatment in long-term survivors of breast cancer. A comparative retrospective study up to 15 years after diagnosis.

Purpose: The purpose was to compare progression/regression of arm lymphoedema, health-related quality of life and medical background data among women who discontinued their treatment (non-continued treatment group, NCTG) with these factors among women who continued treatment (continued treatment group, CTG).

Methods: Seventy-two women were included in the NCTG and 58 women in the CTG. Women in the NCTG were invited to an examination and measurement of affected arm volume at the clinic in 2008.