RATIONALE: Identifying why patients don't do self care for lymphedema may help doctors plan better at-home self-care treatment.

PURPOSE: This research study is looking at self-care practices for lymphedema in patients with breast cancer.

OBJECTIVES:

Primary

• To systematically identify and describe the barriers to completing recommended at home self-care of lymphedema in patients with breast cancer.
• To identify patient recalled instructions as to at home self-care practices for lymphedema as told to them by healthcare professionals and others.
• To identify the current at home self-care practices of breast cancer survivors with treatment treated lymphedema.

Secondary

• To examine the relationship between at home self-care activities and symptoms in breast cancer survivors with lymphedema.
• To examine the relationship between at home self-care activities and quality of life in breast cancer survivors with lymphedema.
• To identify patient-perceived benefits to at home self-care.

OUTLINE: Patients complete questionnaires about their breast cancer diagnosis and treatment history, lymphedema history and problems, and years of education and income. Patients also complete surveys about home self-care practices for lymphedema and any benefits, burdens, or barriers of at home care.

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS:

• History of breast cancer

• Lymphedema in one or both arms that occurred during or after breast cancer treatment

• Must have received prior lymphedema treatment by a healthcare professional

  • Patients with self-reported arm swelling subsequent to breast cancer treatment that has not been treated by a healthcare professional are not eligible

• Hormone receptor status not specified

PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS:

• Menopausal status not specified
• English speaking

PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY:

• See Disease Characteristics

Breast Cancer patients