Once a Week Resistance Training Improves Muscular Strength in Breast Cancer Survivors: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

Background: Exercise has been shown to reduce adverse outcomes related to breast cancer. However, the rate of adherence to physical exercise is very low among breast cancer survivors (BCS). This study investigated the effects of high supervision ratio resistance training (RT), once a week for 8 weeks, on changes in body composition and muscular strength in BCS. Methods: Twenty-five female BCS undergoing hormone therapy were randomized into resistance training group (TG, n = 12) or control (CG, n = 13) group. The TG performed 8 weeks of supervised RT, with 1 trainer per volunteer, once a week. Body composition was evaluated by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry, and muscle strength was evaluated by 10 repetition maximum (10 RM) for leg press (45°) and bench press exercises. A 1-way analysis of variance was used to compare within-group effects at pre- and post-intervention. An analysis of covariance test was used to compare post-intervention values, using pre-intervention measures as covariates. The effect size (ES) was calculated by Cohen's d. Results: The TG improved muscle strength in 10 RM leg press (45°; Δ 33.75 ± 11.51 kg, P = .02; ES = 0.96) and bench press (Δ 4.08 ± 1.83 kg, P = .01; ES = 1.15). Adherence to training was more than 99%. Changes in body composition were not detected. There were no changes in the CG for any assessment. Conclusion: Once-weekly supervised RT could be an alternative to increase the adherence to exercise and improve muscular strength in BCS.

Music Therapy Reduces Radiotherapy-Induced Fatigue in Patients With Breast or Gynecological Cancer: A Randomized Trial.

PURPOSE: To investigate the influence of music therapy on the reduction of fatigue in women with breast or gynecological malignant neoplasia during radiotherapy, since it is one of the most frequent side effects of this type of treatment, and may interfere with self-esteem, social activities, and quality of life. EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN: Randomized controlled trial (control group [CG] and music therapy group [MTG]) to assess fatigue, quality of life, and symptoms of depression in women undergoing radiotherapy using the Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy: Fatigue (FACT-F) version 4, Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy-General (FACT-G) version 4, and Beck Depression Inventory in 3 separate times, namely, during the first week of radiotherapy, on the week of the intermediary phase, and during the last week of radiotherapy. Individual 30- to 40-minute sessions of music therapy with the presence of a trained music therapist were offered to participants. RESULTS: In this study, 164 women were randomized and 116 (63 CG and 53 MTG) were included in the analyses, with mean age of 52.90 years (CG) and 51.85 years (MTG). Participants in the MTG had an average of 10 music therapy sessions, totaling 509 sessions throughout the study. FACT-F results were significant regarding Trial Outcome Index ( P = .011), FACT-G ( P = .005), and FACT-F ( P = .001) for the MTG compared with the CG. CONCLUSIONS: Individual music therapy sessions may be effective to reduce fatigue related to cancer and symptoms of depression, as well as to improve quality of life for women with breast or gynecological cancer undergoing radiotherapy. Further well-designed research studies are needed to adequately determine the effects of music therapy on fatigue.

[Venous and lymphatic alterations in women with lymphedema after axillary lymphadenectomy in breast cancer treatment]. / Alterações venosas e linfáticas em mulheres com linfedema após linfadenectomia axilar no tratamento do câncer de mama.

PURPOSE: To evaluate changes in the venous axillary-subclavian and lymphatic systems of women with lymphedema after axillary lymphadenectomy for breast cancer treatment. METHODS: This was a case series involving 11 women with unilateral upper limb lymphedema after axillary lymphedenectomy for the treatment of breast cancer. The study was carried out in the Mastology Program of the Clinical Hospital of the Federal University of Goiás, Goiânia, GO, during the period between March 2010 and March 2011. Doppler velocimetry ultrasonography was used to detect the presence of venous changes in the subclavian and axillary veins. Lymphatic changes were evaluated by lymphoscintigraphy in both upper limbs. Fisher's exact test was used for the comparison between limbs. RESULTS: Subclavian vein flow volume in the upper limb with lymphedema was significantly different from that in the contralateral limb (p<0.001), 54.6% of the women had increased flow. In the axillary vein, 45.4% had increased flow and 45.4% had decreased flow, with a statistically significant difference (p<0.01) between limbs. Compared to the contralateral limb, significant lymphatic changes (p<0.05) were also found in the vessel route (not visualized), number of lymphatic vessels (none), axillary lymph nodes (absent) and dermal reflux (present). In the contralateral upper limb without lymphedema, no venous or lymphatic alterations were encountered. CONCLUSION: The women subjected to axillary lymphadenectomy for the treatment of breast cancer presented both venous and lymphatic changes in the upper limb with lymphedema.

Comparison of quality of life, satisfaction with surgery and shoulder-arm morbidity in breast cancer survivors submitted to breast-conserving therapy or mastectomy followed by immediate breast reconstruction.

OBJECTIVES: This study was designed to compare the prevalence of shoulder-arm morbidity, patient satisfaction with surgery and the quality of life of women submitted to breast-conserving therapy or modified radical mastectomy and immediate breast reconstruction . METHODS: This study was a cross-sectional study of women who underwent breast-conserving therapy (n = 44) or modified radical mastectomy and immediate breast reconstruction (n = 26). Quality of life was evaluated with the SF-36 Health Survey Questionnaire. RESULTS: No differences were found in the prevalence of lymphedema. The movements that were most commonly affected by these procedures were abduction, flexion and external rotation. When the two groups were compared, however, we only found a statistically significant difference for the prevalence of restricted internal rotation, which occurred in 32% of women in the breast-conserving therapy group and 12% of those in the modified radical mastectomy and immediate breast reconstruction group (OR: 7.23; p = 0.03 following adjustment for potential confounding factors). No difference in quality of life or satisfaction with surgery was found between the two groups. CONCLUSIONS: These data suggest that the type of surgery did not affect the occurrence of lymphedema. Breast-conserving therapy, however, increased the risk of shoulder movement limitation. No differences were found between the two surgical techniques with respect to quality of life or satisfaction with surgery.

Risk factors for duct ectasia.

Duct ectasia consists of dilation of the mammary ducts and is clinically manifested as nipple discharge, which is more commonly multiductal, bilateral, and colored. To identify clinical factors that might be related to duct ectasia. A case-control study was carried out on a population of 150 patients divided into two groups. Group 1 (the experimental group) comprised 100 patients with multiductal, bilateral, and colored nipple discharge, clinically representing the nipple secretion of duct ectasia. Group 2 (the control group) was composed of 50 patients without nipple discharge. The odds ratio of duct ectasia was three times higher for current smokers (p=0.04). Likewise, smokers from the duct ectasia group had smoked for a longer time (median 25 months) compared to smokers from the control group (median 15 months) (p=0.02). Parity, history of abortion or termination, breast-feeding, hormonal contraceptive use, and history of breast abscess did not increase the risk for duct ectasia. The group of women with duct ectasia was associated with current tobacco smoking.

[Knowledge on screening and diagnosis of breast cancer among gynecologists in Goiãs State (Brazil)]. / Conhecimento sobre o diagnóstico e rastreamento do câncer de mama entre os ginecologistas do estado de Goiãs (Brasil).

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the knowledge level on the screening and diagnosis of breast cancer among the gynecologists of the State of Goiãs, Brazil. METHODS: Questionnaires containing professional information and questions on breast cancer screening were posted for all the 427 gynecologists associated to the Goiãs Society of Gynecology and Obstetrics, between May and July of 1999. RESULTS: Of the 427 questionnaires, 26 (6%) were returned because incorrect mailing address. Of the 401 doctors who received the questionnaire, 85 (21%) answered and returned them back. Of these, 28% were female; the average of the profession time was of 17 years. The medical residence was the highest title level for 70%. The average age of the doctors was 44 years. The rates of correct answers were: 94% for the knowledge of the most frequent sign of breast cancer, 75% for the best method for screening, 88% for the period of when the mammography begins, 93% for the periodicity of the mammography after the 50 years and 83% about the indication of the complementary ultrasound. The doctors who have studied in a program of medical residence was the only factor that influenced the rate of correct answers, if compared to those that did not cursed it. The professional's gender, the Title in Gynecology and Obstetrics Specialty (TEGO) holders and the city of work did not influence the rates of correct answers. CONCLUSION: The gynecologists of the State of Goiãs who answered the questionnaire have a good knowledge on the screening and diagnosis of breast cancer. Medical residence was the single factor that influenced the rate of correct answers.

Linfedema post mastectomía / Postmastectomy lymphedema

El abordaje quirúrgico de la axila ha sido parte del tratamiento del cáncer de mama, desde el final del siglo pasado, después de la publicación de los trabajos de Halsted y Meyer. Por otro lado, la radioterapia en la axila, aunque no sea actualmente indicada conjuntamente con la mastectomía, aún puede ser utilizada en algunos casos específicos, como en el de pacientes con diagnóstico de neoplasia en el estadio III. Ambos procedimientos serán causantes de un bloqueo en el sistema linfático que drena el miembro superior del lado tratado. Este hecho será la causa principal del edema miembro superior. El aumento del diámetro del brazo y el edema del miembro superior. El aumento del diámetro del brazo y el edema conforman una situación que, por si sola, puede aumentar el stress de la pacientes en relación a la enfermedad, una vez que esa alteración tiende a recordarla, de una manera muy frecuente, su condición de portadora de cáncer de mama. Eso también llama la atención de las demás personas, transformando la paciente en motivo de curiosidad y dificultando su convivencia social. A su vez el médico tiende a no restar mucha atención a estas molestias de la paciente, una vez que las mismas no causan ningún daño o consecuencias más serias para la mujer y, de cierta forma, llega hasta a abandonar a la paciente con sus temores respecto a ese problema específico