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Biomedicines
Volume 9
Issue 7
10.3390/biomedicines9070818
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Article

The Effects of Obesity on Lymphatic Pain and Swelling in Breast Cancer Patients

by
Mei Rosemary Fu
1,*,†,
Deborah Axelrod
2,†,
Amber Guth
2,
Melissa L. McTernan
3,
Jeanna M. Qiu
4,
Zhuzhu Zhou
3,
Eunjung Ko
5,
Cherlie Magny-Normilus
6,
Joan Scagliola
7 and
Yao Wang
8
1
School of Nursing–Camden, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, Camden, NJ 08102, USA
2
Department of Surgery, School of Medicine, New York University, New York, NY 10016, USA
3
Boston College Research Services, Chestnut Hill, MA 02467, USA
4
Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
5
The Ohio State University College of Nursing, Columbus, OH 43210, USA
6
Boston College William F. Connell School of Nursing, Chestnut Hill, MA 02467, USA
7
NYU Laura and Isaac Perlmutter Cancer Center, New York, NY 10016, USA
8
Tandon School of Enginereeng, Electrical and Computer Engeenerng and Biomedical Engineering, New York Universuty, New York, NY 11202, USA
*
Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
†
Mei Rosemary Fu and Deborah Axelrod shared the first author.
Biomedicines 2021, 9(7), 818; https://doi.org/10.3390/biomedicines9070818
Submission received: 27 May 2021 / Revised: 26 June 2021 / Accepted: 6 July 2021 / Published: 14 July 2021
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Obesity and Diabetes: Impact on Cancer)
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Abstract

Lymphatic pain and swelling due to lymph fluid accumulation are the most common and debilitating long-term adverse effects of cancer treatment. This study aimed to quantify the effects of obesity on lymphatic pain, arm, and truncal swelling. Methods: A sample of 554 breast cancer patients were enrolled in the study. Body mass index (BMI), body fat percentage, and body fat mass were measured using a bioimpedance device. Obesity was defined as a BMI ≥ 30 kg/m2. The Breast Cancer and Lymphedema Symptom Experience Index was used to measure lymphatic pain, arm, and truncal swelling. Multivariable logistic regression models were used to estimate the odds ratio (OR) with 95% confidence interval (CI) to quantify the effects of obesity. Results: Controlling for clinical and demographic characteristics as well as body fat percentage, obesity had the greatest effects on lymphatic pain (OR 3.49, 95% CI 1.87–6.50; p < 0.001) and arm swelling (OR 3.98, 95% CI 1.82–4.43; p < 0.001). Conclusions: Obesity is a significant risk factor for lymphatic pain and arm swelling in breast cancer patients. Obesity, lymphatic pain, and swelling are inflammatory conditions. Future study should explore the inflammatory pathways and understand the molecular mechanisms to find a cure.
Keywords: obesity; lymphatic; pain; swelling; arm swelling; truncal swelling; lymphedema; breast cancer obesity; lymphatic; pain; swelling; arm swelling; truncal swelling; lymphedema; breast cancer

Share and Cite

MDPI and ACS Style

Fu, M.R.; Axelrod, D.; Guth, A.; McTernan, M.L.; Qiu, J.M.; Zhou, Z.; Ko, E.; Magny-Normilus, C.; Scagliola, J.; Wang, Y. The Effects of Obesity on Lymphatic Pain and Swelling in Breast Cancer Patients. Biomedicines 2021, 9, 818. https://doi.org/10.3390/biomedicines9070818

AMA Style

Fu MR, Axelrod D, Guth A, McTernan ML, Qiu JM, Zhou Z, Ko E, Magny-Normilus C, Scagliola J, Wang Y. The Effects of Obesity on Lymphatic Pain and Swelling in Breast Cancer Patients. Biomedicines. 2021; 9(7):818. https://doi.org/10.3390/biomedicines9070818

Chicago/Turabian Style

Fu, Mei Rosemary, Deborah Axelrod, Amber Guth, Melissa L. McTernan, Jeanna M. Qiu, Zhuzhu Zhou, Eunjung Ko, Cherlie Magny-Normilus, Joan Scagliola, and Yao Wang. 2021. "The Effects of Obesity on Lymphatic Pain and Swelling in Breast Cancer Patients" Biomedicines 9, no. 7: 818. https://doi.org/10.3390/biomedicines9070818

APA Style

Fu, M. R., Axelrod, D., Guth, A., McTernan, M. L., Qiu, J. M., Zhou, Z., Ko, E., Magny-Normilus, C., Scagliola, J., & Wang, Y. (2021). The Effects of Obesity on Lymphatic Pain and Swelling in Breast Cancer Patients. Biomedicines, 9(7), 818. https://doi.org/10.3390/biomedicines9070818

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