• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.14 no.11
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• pp.6905-6911
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• 2013

Background: Breast cancer (BC) is the top cancer among women worldwide and the most frequent malignancy among Iranian women over the past few decades. The increasing trend and high mortality rate of BC in the developing world necessitates studies concentrating on its characteristics in countries in Asia. The current study focused on clinical and histopathological features of BC among Iranian females. Materials and Methods: This retrospective study involved 714 Iranian patients with histopathologically proven BC undergoing resection of primary tumours and axillary clearance. Demographic, clinical and histopathological data were obtained and studied between ten year age groups (${\leq}40$ years, 41-50 years, 51-60 years, 61-70 years, and ${\leq}71$ years) in four chronologic phases from 1994-2009. Results: Mean age of patients was $49.4{\pm}13.1$ years. Most of cases (33.2%) were in 41-50 group. Mean size of primary tumors was $3.94{\pm}2.47$ cm and 87.1% of cases had infiltrative ductal carcinoma. Modified radical mastectomy was the most common method of surgery carried out (48.8%). Some 57.1% of tumors were in pT2 and tumor size decreased significantly during the period (p<0.05). The most common BC stage was llla (27%). Lower BC stages (0 and 1) constituted 13.9% of the diagnosed tumors. Our series of patients aged ${\leq}40$ had larger tumors (mean $4.73{\pm}3.02$ cm) compared to older age groups (p=0.003). Lower stages (0 and I) were more frequent among the oldest patients while nearly 50% of patients aged ${\leq}40$ had tumor stage III. We also observed a significant decreasing trend in the mean LN count (p<0.05) and blood vessel invasion (p=0.023) from younger to older age groups. Conclusions: More aggressive disease for younger age groups, earlier peak incidence age and high rate of advanced BC at the time of diagnosis among Iranian women, were the main findings of this study.

• Journal of Korean Public Health Nursing
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• v.13 no.2
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• pp.101-114
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• 1999

This study was designed to investigate the effects of an aquatic exercise program on the shoulder joint function. physical symptom. quality of life and stress among the patients who received modified radical mastectomy between 6 to 12 months prior to their visits. The subjects were 31 women aged between 40 and 60 who visited the out-patient department at Kang Nam St. Mary's Hospital for follow-up care. and were not under the treatment of intravenous cancer chemotherapy or radiation therapy. and had no complications. Twelve of them were assigned to the control group. while nineteen subjects to the experimental group. The aquatic exercise program was developed by the author with the assistance of exercise specialists. The program includes warming uP. aerobic and cooling down exercises in water. The aquatic exercise program for the experimental group was carried out 3 times a week with 60 minutes in each time for 8 weeks from September 20th to November 15th. 1995 in a regular swimming pool in Seoul. Changes in the range of motion of the shoulder joint. muscle strength. physical symptom. quality of life. and stress were examined after the completion of treatment. The data were collected through isokinetic muscle strength evaluation and questionnaire survey before and after the treatment. Paired and unpaired t-test were adopted to analyze the data. The results were as follows ; 1. The increment in the range of motion of the shoulder joint in the experimental group after the exercise was significantly greater than those in the control group. 2. The peak torque of shoulder girdle muscles increased significantly after the exercise in the experimental group only. 3. The physical symptom score decreased significantly after the exercise in the experimental group only. 4. The experimental group revealed significantly higher level of quality of life and lower level of stress after the exercise compared with those before the exercise. whereas the control group showed no significant changes in those levels. These findings may indicate that the aquatic exercise program is effective in increasing the range of motion of the shoulder joint and muscle strength and quality of life. and also effective in decreasing physical symptoms. and the level of stress in postmastectomy patients. Accordingly. the acquatic exercise program' can be adopted as an effective nursing intervention for postmastectomy rehabilitation.

• Journal of radiological science and technology
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• v.26 no.2
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• pp.29-35
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• 2003

The purpose of this study was to compare the compression force and thickness of the compressed breast between mediolateral oblique and craniocaudal mammography. This population consisted of 204 paired mediolateral oblique and craniocaudal mammography obtained on one mammographic unit by certified mammography technologists during 2 month period. The women examined were $30{\sim}59$ years old with breast implants, the patients were classified into 3 groups according to age, $30{\sim}39$, $40{\sim}49$, and $50{\sim}59$, prior breast cancer, mastectomy or breast deformity were excluded. The digital readout of compressed breast compression force and thickness was recorded. Mammographic positioning was assessed using standard criteria. The mean compression force of the compressed breast on the craniocaudal projection was less than the mean compression force on the mediolateral projection(14 versus 13.88 daN, p<0.05). The mean thickness of the compressed breast for mediolateral projection was 41.46 mm and that for the craniocaudal projection was 39.50 mm(p<0.05). The compressed breast is higher or thicker on mediolateral oblique than on craniocaudal mammography.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.15 no.20
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• pp.8607-8612
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• 2014

Background: Breast cancer patients experience a variety of altered appearance - such as loss or disfigurement of breasts, discolored skin, and hair loss - which result in psychological distress that affect their quality of life. This study aims to evaluate the impact of socioeconomic status on the altered appearance distress, body image, and quality of life among Korean breast cancer patients. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted at advocacy events held at 16 different hospitals in Korea. Subjects were eligible to participate if they were 18 years of age or older, had a histologically confirmed diagnosis of breast cancer, had no evidence of recurrence or metastasis, and had no psychological problems at the time of the survey. Employment status, marital status, education, and income were assessed for patient socioeconomic status. Altered appearance distress was measured using the NCI's cancer treatment side effects scale; body image and quality of life were measured by the EORTC QLC-C30 and BR23. Means and standard deviations of each outcome were compared by socioeconomic status and multivariate linear regression models for evaluating the association between socioeconomic status and altered appearance distress, body image, and quality of life. Results: A total of 126 breast cancer patients participated in the study; the mean age of participants was 47.7 (SD=8.4). Of the total, 83.2% were married, 85.6% received more than high school education, 35.2% were employed, and 41% had more than $3000 in monthly household income. About 46% had mastectomy, and over 30% were receiving either chemotherapy or radiation therapy at the time of the survey. With fully adjusted models, the employed patients had significantly higher altered appearance distress (1.80 vs 1.48; p<0.05) and poorer body image (36.63 vs 51.69; p<0.05) compared to the patients who were unemployed. Higher education (10.58, standard error (SE)=7.63) and family income (12.88, SE=5.08) was positively associated with better body image after adjusting for age, disease stage at diagnosis, current treatment status, and breast surgery type. Similarly, patients who were married and who had higher education had better quality of life were statistically significant in the multivariate models. Conclusions: Socioeconomic status is significantly associated with altered appearance distress, body image, and quality of life in Korean women with breast cancer. Patients who suffer from altered appearance distress or lower body image are much more likely to experience psychosocial, physical, and functional problems than women who do not, therefore health care providers should be aware of the changes and distresses that these breast cancer patients go through and provide specific information and psychosocial support to socioeconomically more vulnerable patients.