Evaluation of factors related to lymph edema in breast cancer patients receiving neoadjuvant treatment

Objective: This study was conducted to evaluate the associated risk factors associated with lymphedema in breast cancer patients receiving neoadjuvant chemotherapy. Material and Method: The research was carried out with 44 breast cancer patients who had operated after receiving neoadjuvant chemotherapy and followed up at the oncology clinic of Aydın Adnan Menderes University between 2015 and 2020. Patients received/received hormone therapy if their hormone receptor was positive. The research data were collected together with the "Case Report Form/Data Tracking Report" and "Upper Extremity Bilateral Environmental Measurement". Pearson chi-square test, Fisher's exact test and single-variable logistic regression analysis were used for statistical analysis. Results: The study found that lymphedema was found in 3 (27.3%) of normal-weight patients, 0% (0%) of overweight patients and 8% (72.7%) of obese patients (p=0.003). While lymphedema developed in 11 (42.3%) of patients who underwent mastectomy, lymphedema did not develop in any of the patients who underwent breast-protective surgery (p=0.001). While lymphedema did not develop in any of the patients who underwent sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB), lymphedema developed in 11 (39.3%) of patients with axillary lymph node dissection (ALND) (p=0.003). Conclusion: It was understood in this study that the incidence of lymphedema was increased due to body mass index surgery type and lymph node surgery. Keywords: Breast cancer, Lymphedema, Neoadjuvant chemotherapy.