Factors Affecting Functionality in Breast Cancer Survivors

Breast cancer is the most frequent cancer type in women globally. In conjunction with the new developments, breast cancer survival has increased therefore the management of long-term complications has gained importance. Breast cancer survivors can face the loss of muscle strength, increased fatigue and diminished physical function associated with treatment-related long term effects and psychological affection and thereby reduced quality of life. Upper extremity lymphedema or breast cancer-related lymphedema (BCRL) is one of the most prominent long term complications which affects breast cancer survivors in many ways after breast cancer surgery. It has been reported that breast cancer survivors with BCRL have the lower muscle strength and more activity limitations when compared to the ones free of BCRL. In BCRL, affected extremity has been found to 36% more weaker when compared to the unaffected side. Fatigue is one of the most prominent symptoms when considering cancer-related symptoms in cancer survivors. It has been stated that increased fatigue is correlated with increased activity limitation and deterioration in physical function. The hand-grip test which is frequently used in the assessment of decreased muscle function has been stated as a reliable and repeatable test in breast cancer survivors. In addition, this test is frequently applicable to assess mortality, physical and functional capacity, symptoms after surgery and to designate an exercise program. There are studies that investigate upper extremity function associated with hang-grip strength in breast cancer survivors. Yet, there is a lack of the objective result or conclusion of the BCRL effect on upper extremity function which is assessed with hang-grip strength when compared without BCRL. Therefore, this study is planned to investigate of cumulative effects of factors such as lymphedema severity, age, fatigue, body mass index, muscle strength, physical activity level, pain level, exercise benefits/ba