• Journal of the Korean Institute of Oriental Medical Informatics
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• v.14 no.2
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• pp.95-103
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• 2008

Objectives : The purpose of this case is to report the improvement of a patient with lymphedema due to axillary lymph node dissection after acupuncture therapy and herbal medicine. Methods : We treated the patient with Dong-Qi acupuncture, herbal medication(木通大安湯), lymph absorption massage, compresses, abdominal breathing. We measured the circumference of the patient's elbow and wrist every day at 6pm. Results : Since being hospitalized, the circumference of the patient' elbow and wrist has been decreased and VAS score has gotten lower gradually. Conclusions : We considered Dong-Qi acupuncture, herbal medication had a useful effect on lymphedema due to axillary lymph node dissection with lymph absorption massage, compresses, abdominal breathing.

• The Journal of Korean Academy of Orthopedic Manual Physical Therapy
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• v.23 no.2
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• pp.69-74
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• 2017

Background: To compare the effects of scapular stabilization exercise on the range of motion, pain, and function in the shoulders of women with breast cancer surgery. Methods: Fifteen patients were performed scapular stabilizing training using dumbbells for 30 minutes daily, five times per week for 4 weeks. The range of motion, pain, and function in the shoulder were assessed. Goniometer was used for ROM of shoulder external rotation. Shoulder pain and disability index was used for pain and function of shoulder. Comparison of the pre and post intervention was calculated by a paired t-test. Results: After 4 weeks of training, range of motion, pain and function in the shoulder improved significantly in patients with breast cancer surgery (p<.05). Conclusion: These findings indicate the more favorable effects from scapular stabilization exercise in patients with breast cancer surgery.

• The Journal of Korean Academy of Orthopedic Manual Physical Therapy
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• v.25 no.1
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• pp.53-61
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• 2019

Background: This study aimed to investigate the effects of manual lymph drainage (MLD) on women with breast cancer and lymph edema. Methods: This study was carried out with a total of 23 women with breast cancer and lymph edema. By drawing lots, women were assigned to either the manual drainage group (MLD, n=12), a control group (n=11). Outcomes such as the arm size, visual analogue scale, shoulder pain and disability index, and functional assessment cancer therapy-breast (FACT-B) were measured to 0 week, 2 weeks, 4 weeks, and 8 weeks intervention for both groups. Results: A significant difference was found in the arm size, pain, functional disability level, and quality of life between the two groups and time(p<.01). Significant difference in functional disability level between 2 and 8 weeks at 4 weeks and 8 weeks for pain(p<.01), and the quality for life was significantly different at all time points (p<.01). Conclusions: Applying MLD treatment to women with breast cancer proved to have a positive effect.

• Asian Oncology Nursing
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• v.1 no.2
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• pp.204-216
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• 2001

The purpose of this study was to test the effects of foot reflexology on pain and mood in patients who have just had a mastectomy. The research design was a nonequivalent control group, non-synchronized design. The participants for this study were 28 patients with breast cancer on first or second day after mastectomy surgery. The first 12 patients were assigned to the control group and the second 16 to the experimental group. The study was conducted from October 28, 2001 to December 22, 2001 on a surgical unit of Y Medical Center in Seoul, Korea. Pain intensity, blood pressure, pulse rate and mood were measured as dependent variables. The instrument used for pain intensity and mood was a 10 cm visual analogue scale. Cronbach alpha for this study was .70. For the experimental group pre and post tests were done immediately before and 15 minutes after completion of foot reflexology. Foot reflexology was performed once for 20 minutes. After the pretest, patients in the control group were instructed to have a quiet time for a 35 minute period and then the post-test was done. The number of participants was small so the data were analyzed by Mann-Whitney U test, and Wilcoxon signed ranks test. The results of this study are as follow : 1. In the experimental group there were significant decreases between the pre and post tests for pain intensity (z=-3.47, p<.001), diastolic blood pressure (z=-2.67, p<.01) and pulse rate (z=-3.44, p<.001) but there was no difference between the two groups on the post test. 2. The systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure and pulse rate were also not significantly different between the experimental group and the control group on the post test. 3. The mood score was significantly improved after foot reflexology(z=-3.52, p=.000) and the difference between the two groups was also significant (u=49.0, p=.03). In conclusion, there was a statistically significant difference in mood between the two groups, but no difference for pain intensity, blood pressure, or pulse rate. However, there were significant differences between the pretest and post-test for pain intensity, diastolic blood pressure and pulse rate in the experimental group. On the basis of the above findings, this study suggests that foot reflexology can be an effective method of relieving pain and improving mood in clinical practice in women who have had mastectomy surgery.

• Archives of Plastic Surgery
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• v.35 no.5
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• pp.533-538
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• 2008

Purpose: Sensory changes in the upper limb are complications of a mastectomy with immediate breast reconstruction with the treatment of breast cancer. The purpose of this study is to clarify whether immediate breast reconstruction worsens the sensory changes. Methods: From March 2004 to December 2005, 20 patients who had a mastectomy with immediate breast reconstruction(reconstruction group) were compared with 23 patients who had a mastectomy alone(control group). All patients had stage I or II breast cancer. The sensory changes were assessed in a blind manner by one examiner that used light touch sensation, static two-point discrimination, pain, vibration, hot and cold temperature perception. The sensory changes were identified along the sensory dermatome for diagnosing the damaged nerves. The following factors and their relationship with the sensory changes were analyzed : age, complications, and the mastectomy method. Results: There was no statistical difference in the static two-point discrimination, pain, vibration, hot and cold temperature perception between the two groups. However, the ability to recognize light touch was significantly better(p=0.045) in the reconstruction group than in the control group. The main site of sensory change was the proximal and medial portion of the upper limb in both groups. At these sites, the mean value of Semmes-Weinstein monofilament was $1.01g/mm^2$(reconstruction group 0.82, control group 1.17) and 2-point discrimination was 51.74(converted to perfect score of 100; reconstruction group 42.50, control group 59.78). The total rate of early complications was found to be significantly lower(p=0.006) in the reconstruction group than in the control group. Conclusion: These findings suggest that an immediate breast reconstructive procedure following a mastectomy is as safe as or safer than a mastectomy alone with respect to postoperative sensory changes of the ipsilateral upper limb.

• Archives of Plastic Surgery
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• v.37 no.6
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• pp.736-741
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• 2010

Purpose: Radical surgical extirpation in advanced breast cancer patients produces extensive loss of skin with large defects requiring plastic surgical procedures for the closure. Many reconstructive methods exist, the choice of which depends upon the characteristic of the wound, extent of resection and patient comorbidities. For adequate coverage of the large skin defects following resection of advanced breast cancer, current authors have performed a thoracoabdominal flap. Methods: From August 2008 to June 2009, 4 cases of thoraco-abdominal flap were performed for chest wall reconstruction after mastectomy of advanced breast cancer. Flap dissection was entirely performed in a subfascial plane and the flap involving the external oblique abdominal muscle. The flap was rotated clockwise in left chest wall defects and counterclockwise in right chest defects and the donor site was closed directly. Results: Their mean age, 55.7 years and the average follow-up interval was 9 months. Patients' oncologic status ranged from stage IIIc to stage IV, it was classified according to the TNM staging system. Flap dimensions ranged between $15{\times}15$ and $25{\times}25\;cm$. One flap sustained a partial loss at the distal margin and revision with pectoralis major musculocutaneous island flap. Conclusion: Large chest wall reconstructions are usually required after radical excision of advanced cancer stages patients with poor general conditions. Thoracoabdominal flap is a simple, quick single-stage procedure, and offer to patient fast recovery, low complication rate, enabling further concomitant adjuvant therapy.

• The Journal of the Korean bone and joint tumor society
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• v.9 no.1
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• pp.12-17
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• 2003

Purpose: In this report we are going to discuss about the functional evaluation and the outcome of treatment of metastatic tumor in the lower extremities treated with tumor prosthetic arthroplasty. Materials and Methods: This report is based on nine patients diagnosed as a metastatic tumor and treated by tumor prosthetic arthroplasty, from June 1998 to December 2001. Age of the patients ranged from 49 to 63 with the average of 56.3. The average follow up period was 23.4 months. Two patients had lung cancer, three had breast cancer, two had renal cancer, one colon cancer, and one had multiple myeloma. All these were primary cancers. The site of metastasis were six in proximal femur, two in distal femur, and one in proximal tibia. Tumor excision was performed after biopsy in following the principle of primary tumor management. Excision with wide surgical margin was tried as possible could. Six cases were treated with tumor prosthesis, and the other three cases were reconstructed with bone cement and arthroplasty. Results: The functional evaluation in the extremities at the last follow up was performed on Enneking evaluation score with 6 categories. The highest scored 26, and the lowest scored 10, with an average of 19.5. A case in which the patient died 15 days after the operation was excluded from the evaluation. Among the categories, emotional acceptance to postoperative function and pain relief were highly scored. At the final follow up, seven patients survived, and one colon cancer patient died 68 days after operation. Conclusion: Metastatic tumor occurring in joints of lower extremities could be treated in accordance to the treatment principle of primary tumor. By insertion of tumor prosthesis, we can get satisfactory results of function in the lower extremity and pain relief especially. So, this aspect of medical favor must be considered in treating patients.

• The Journal of the Society of Korean Medicine Diagnostics
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• v.19 no.2
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• pp.75-90
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• 2015

Objectives The purposes of this study was to develope a Qi gong exercise that suits characteristics of post mastectomy women, and to evaluate the effect of Qi gong exercise on immune response, blood circulation index, pulse wave parameter and heart rate variability. Methods This study was applied to total 35 post mastectomy women, including 17 for experiment group and 18 for control group. The Qi gong exercise was composed of total 24 times of 90 minutes per each time, twice a week, and 12 weeks and it was conducted by the oriental medicine professor who was an expert of Qi gong exercise. Results 1. Two group comparison revealed that the experimental group had significantly improved immune response(p<.021), HR(beats/min)(p<.001), ESV(ml/beat)(p=.038), ESI($ml/beat/m^2$)(p=.040), ECO (L/min)(p=.019), ECI($L/min/m^2$)(p=.023), ECRI($dyne^*sec/cm$)(p=.015), Left Kwan($div^3$)(p=.021), Right Kwan($div^3$)(p=.038), Mean HRV(cycle/min)(p<.001), SDNN(ms)(p=.043), RMSSD(ms)(p=.040), and TP(log $ms^2$)(p=.039). 2. Two group comparison revealed that the experimental group had significantly decreased ECR ($dyne^*sec^*cm^{-5}$) (p=.034), Left RAI(p=.044), Right RAI(p=.042), and pNN50(%)(p=.038). Conclusions These results from Qi gong exercise program can be used as basic data for development of health promotion program for Post Mastectomy Women.

• Physical Therapy Korea
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• v.22 no.1
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• pp.9-18
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• 2015

This study aimed to compare the characteristics of breast cancer surgery and shoulder surgery patients on the shoulder range of motion (ROM), degree of pain and dysfunction, and scapular position. This study was carried out with a total of 90 women: a breast cancer surgery group (BS, $n_1=30$), a shoulder surgery group (SS, $n_2=30$) and a control group ($n_3=30$). Shoulder ROM, the Quadruple Visual Analogue Scale (QVAS), the Shoulder Pain and Disability Index (SPADI), and the Scapular Index (SI) were used to assess shoulder function. Statistical analyses were performed using a one-way analysis of variance, crosstab test, and independent sample t-test. Post-hoc testing was carried out with Bonferroni test. There were significant differences in shoulder ROM when the BS and the SS were compared with the control group. However, there was no significant difference in ROM between the BS and SS. Furthermore, there was a significant difference in shoulder pain between both surgery groups, and there was greater shoulder dysfunction in the SS than in the BS. There was also a significant difference in upper extremity posture when the BS and the SS were compared to the control group. Finally, there was no significant difference in upper extremity posture between the BS and the SS. This study compared shoulder ROM, pain, dysfunction, and upper extremity postures between the BS and SS. While there were no significant differences in shoulder ROM, pain, and upper extremity posture between both surgery groups, the level of dysfunction was found to be significantly different. Therefore, health professionals managing for breast cancer surgery or shoulder surgery patients should consider these outcomes.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Physical Medicine
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• v.11 no.4
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• pp.147-156
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• 2016

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of sensory motor training using ball exercise on shoulder range of motion, pain, dysfunction, and quality of life in Breast Cancer Women after Mastectomy. METHODS: A total of 26 patients from D University Hospital in Daejeon were included and randomly allocated to two groups (n=13 per group). The two groups performed the exercise five times a week for 4 weeks. A sensory motor training group (SMTG) received general physical treatment for 10 minutes and sensorimotor training for 20 minutes. A control group (CG) received general physical therapy for 30 minutes. Shoulder pain (the Visual Analog Scale), range of motion, disability (the shoulder pain and disability index) and quality of life (the Functional Assessment Cancer Therapy-Breast instrument) were measured in both groups before and after 4-weeks intervention. RESULTS: A significant difference was found in joint range of motion, shoulder pain, functional disability level, and quality of life within the two groups (p <.05). In addition, changes in joint range of motion, pain, functional disability level, and quality of life after then intervention were significantly different between the two groups (p <.05). CONCLUSION: These results suggest that a sensory motor training program is feasible, safe, and suitable exercise for shoulder functions and quality of life in Breast Cancer Women after Mastectomy.