LYMPHEDEMA COMPLICATED BY PAIN AND PSYCHOLOGICAL DISTRESS - A CASE WITH COMPLEX TREATMENT NEEDS

One complication of breast cancer treatment is lymphedema of the ipsil ateral arm. The one-third of lymphedema patients who experience pain r eport more functional interference, psychiatric symptoms, and distress related to intrusive and avoidant thoughts than patients without pain . Lymphedema patients with pain also report higher levels of body imag e disturbance and decreased sexual drive. We present a case example il lustrating how pain can undermine rehabilitative efforts and detract f rom quality of life. In addition, the most common causes of pain in pa tients with upper extremity lymphedema are discussed. Pain related to lymphedema is a neglected aspect of this often overlooked problem in b reast cancer survivorship. (C) U.S. Cancer Pain Relief Committee, 1996 .