Exploring breast cancer patients' experiences of breast lymphoedema
Research type
Research Study
Full title
How do women describe their experiences of developing and living with breast (or trunk) lymphoedema after surgery and radiotherapy for breast cancer? A qualitative study using visual methods.
IRAS ID
225878
Contact name
Janet A Ulman
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Sheffield Hallam University
Duration of Study in the UK
1 years, 6 months, 30 days
Research summary
How do women describe their experiences of developing and living with breast or trunk lymphoedema after surgery or radiotherapy for breast cancer?
Lymphoedema is swelling due to a build-up of fluid trapped in body tissues. Surgery or radiotherapy for breast cancer may cause damage resulting in lymphoedema in the breast, trunk (chest or back) or arm. Breast/trunk lymphoedema is not easily recognised and diagnosed, leading to wide variation in estimates and poor understanding amongst health professionals. There is very little research about breast/trunk lymphoedema, and no available evidence of women's experiences.
Who is being studied?
Women who have had surgery and radiotherapy for breast cancer and who have subsequently developed breast or trunk lymphoedema will be eligible.
How will participants be recruited?
Recruitment will take place via identification during clinic appointments, by poster invitation, by a Twitter announcement, via an online support group and by word of mouth.
What will they be asked to do?
Each participant will meet with the researcher on one or two occasions:
At the first contact (in person or by phone), the researcher will offer a verbal explanation of the study to support the written information previously supplied to the potential participant.
At the second meeting, participants will bring photographs that they have created/ chosen to represent/symbolise their experiences of developing/living with breast lymphoedema. The photographs will be used as the basis of discussion during an audio-taped interview lasting 30-90 minutes.
If participants opt not to use photographs, they will simply be invited to talk about their experiences in an interview.
Participants will be invited to comment on the analysis and select photographs for presentations, publications and teaching materials.
What is the potential impact?
The study findings could improve information provided to patients and healthcare professionals, as well as informing patients' families and breast cancer support organisations.
Sheffield Hallam University is sponsoring the study.
REC name
Yorkshire & The Humber - South Yorkshire Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
18/YH/0182
Date of REC Opinion
17 Jul 2018
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion