Other independent predictors of BCRL include receipt of neoadjuvant chemotherapy, older age, increasing amount of time since surgery<\/p>\n<\/h3>\n
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MONDAY, Dec. 13, 2021 (HealthDay News) — Black race is the strongest predictor of breast cancer-related lymphedema (BCRL) after axillary lymph node dissection (ALND), according to a study presented at the annual San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium, held from Dec. 7 to 10 in San Antonio.<\/p>\n
Andrea V. Barrio, M.D., from the Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center in New York City, and colleagues examined the impact of race and ethnicity on BCRL incidence and severity in a prospective cohort study of patients treated with ALND. Participants were evaluated at baseline, postoperatively, and at six month intervals; 268 participants had at least one longitudinal measurement after baseline and were included.<\/p>\n
The researchers found that the likelihood of receiving breast-conserving surgery and nodal radiotherapy was increased for Black and Hispanic women. Fifty women developed BCRL at a median follow-up of 1.62 years. The 18-month BCRL rate was 15.9 percent overall, with a higher incidence for Black and Hispanic versus Asian and Caucasian women (18-month rates, 30.9, 20.2, 10.6, and 11.8 percent, respectively). Black race was the strongest predictor of BCRL development in a multivariable analysis (odds ratio, 4.41 compared with Caucasian). Other factors independently predicting development of BCRL included receipt of neoadjuvant chemotherapy, older age, an increasing number of lymph nodes removed, and a longer follow-up interval. Compared with Caucasian women, Black women were 3.85 times more likely to have a higher relative volume change from baseline when assessing BCRL severity; no difference was identified in Hispanic and Asian women.<\/p>\n
“Further work should address the biologic mechanisms behind racial disparities in the risk of BCRL and possible preventive strategies,” the authors write.<\/p>\n
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