Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41636913›Full record

ArticleBreast cancer research and treatment2026

The relationship between impaired upper-body function, quality of life and breast cancer-related lymphoedema: results from a prospective, population-based cohort study.

Hildegard M Reul-Hirche, Matthew R Dunn, Melanie L Plinsinga, E-Liisa Laakso, Melissa A Troester, Sandra C Hayes

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Article in Breast cancer research and treatment, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

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Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

1 citing paper in PubMed.

  1. Observational
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

6 authors.

Hildegard M Reul-HircheSchool of Health Sciences and Social Work, Griffith University, Brisbane, QLD, 4111, Australia. hildegard.reul-hirche@griffithuni.edu.au.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-4077-0312
Matthew R DunnDepartment of Epidemiology, Gillings School of Global Public Health, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, 27599, USA.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0001-7618-4983
Melanie L PlinsingaAustralian Centre for Precision Health and Technology, Griffith University, Gold Coast, QLD, 4222, Australia.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0001-8902-7434
E-Liisa LaaksoSchool of Health Sciences and Social Work, Griffith University, Brisbane, QLD, 4111, Australia.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0003-4820-1090
Melissa A TroesterDepartment of Epidemiology, Gillings School of Global Public Health, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, 27599, USA.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0001-9506-6624
Sandra C HayesCancer Council Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, 4006, Australia.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-7005-5184

Funding

National Cancer Institute's National Research Service Award sponsored by the Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center at the University of North Carolina . (T32 CA116339)
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

purposeTo describe upper-body function in women after breast cancer treatment; and to explore the relationship between upper-body function, quality of life and breast cancer- related lymphoedema up to 7-years post-diagnosis.

methodsThis study uses data collected in a prospective, longitudinal, population-based, breast cancer cohort study. The Disability of Arm, Shoulder and Hand questionnaire (short version -QuickDASH), the Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy-Breast questionnaire (FACT-B) and self-report of a clinical diagnosis were used to assess upper-body function, quality of life and breast cancer-related lymphoedema, respectively, in 2,876 women with invasive breast cancer at three time points: baseline (up to 9 months post-diagnosis), and at 2- and 7-years post-diagnosis. Unadjusted cross-sectional relationships between outcomes of interest were tested at each time point. Unadjusted and adjusted regression analyses were used to explore the potential predictive relationship between upper-body function and lymphoedema.

resultsUpper-body impairment was common up to 7-years post-diagnosis with > 60% of women reporting at least mild impairment and 23.8-25.6% reporting moderate to very severe impairment. Impaired upper-body function at baseline assessment was associated with poorer overall quality of life (mean (standard deviation) FACT-B for no versus mild impairment: 77.5 (11.8) versus 70.9 (12.1), p < 0.05) and increased odds of breast cancer-related lymphoedema at 2 and 7 years follow-up (moderate to severe upper-body function impairment at 2- and 7- years post-diagnosis: Odds Ratio (95% Confidence interval) 2.49 (1.57, 3.93) and 2.54 (1.51, 4.26), respectively).

conclusionFuture research evaluating whether prospective monitoring of upper-body function and interventions that can address impairment can reduce the risk of breast cancer-related lymphoedema are warranted.

Indexed as

Breast Cancer LymphedemaBreast NeoplasmsLymphedemaQuality of LifeAdultAgedFemaleHumansLongitudinal StudiesMiddle AgedProspective StudiesSurveys and QuestionnairesUpper ExtremityBreast cancerCohort studyImpairmentLymphoedemaRiskUpper-body function

Identifiers

PMID41636913

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.