Expressive Writing in Improving Quality of Life in Patients With Breast Cancer and Lymphedema

This is an interventional supportive care trial for Breast Cancer focused on measuring fatigue, stage I breast cancer, stage II breast cancer, stage IIIA breast cancer, stage IIIB breast cancer, stage IIIC breast cancer, lymphedema Read More

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS:

• Women who have undergone prior surgery and/or radiotherapy for breast cancer

  • No metastatic disease

• Must have lymphedema, meeting the following conditions:

  • Stage II disease

    • Swelling unrelieved by elevation, arm may be hard, may not pit with pressure, or skin changes have taken place
  • Received prior professional treatment for lymphedema
  • Requires life-long, at home self-care (e.g., compression sleeves)
• No history of bilateral lymphedema prohibiting extracellular fluid comparison to an unaffected limb

PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS:

Inclusion criteria:

• Able to read, write (for 20 minutes), and speak English
• Willing and able to drive to the study site or agree to be seen in an outpatient setting (e.g., private therapist office, outpatient clinic, physicians office, or own home) once

Exclusion criteria:

• Has medical condition that could cause edema, including any of the following:

  • Symptomatic congestive heart failure
  • Chronic/acute renal disease
  • Cor pulmonale
  • Nephrotic syndrome
  • Nephrosis
  • Liver failure
  • Cirrhosis
  • Pregnant or expect to become pregnant during course of the study
• Unable to stand upright for measurement of height and weight
• Has a metal implant, internal defibrillator, or pacemakers
• History of suicide attempts
• No recent suicidal ideation (within last 6 months)

PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY:

• See Disease Characteristics
• No concurrent intravenous chemotherapy or radiotherapy for active cancer
• No concurrent antipsychotic medication (i.e., haldol, thorazine, stelazine)