Late symptoms among patients surgically treated for breast cancer. A questionnaire in the county of Southern Jutland

: The 1989 protocol of the Danish Breast Cancer Cooperative Group implied a more extensive axillary dissection and reduced frequency of regional lymphnode irradiation. A questionnaire concerning late symptoms was sent to all women operated from 1989 to 1993. The rate of response among women treated with modified radical mastectomy was 82%. Of 163 patients, 79% had one or more late symptoms. Most troublesome was pain in the neck, shoulder and arm or scar-related pain. Other symptoms were lymphoedema, paraesthesia of the arm and impaired shoulder function; each symptom occurring among 29-47% of the women. Most symptoms began three to four weeks postoperatively. The frequency of late symptoms corresponded with number of lymphnodes removed, number of tumourpositive nodes and irradiation of the scar. Thirty-five women were treated with tumourectomy and they experienced similar late symptoms with a similar degree of distress. It is concluded that late symptoms among women treated for breast cancer still occur frequently.