Impact of lower limb lymphedema on quality of life in gynecologic cancer survivors after pelvic lymph node dissection

ObjectiveTo evaluate the impact of lower limb lymphedema (LLL) on quality of life (QOL) in cervical, ovarian, and endometrial cancer survivors after pelvic lymph node dissection.Study designA cross-sectional case-control study was performed using the Korean version of the Gynecologic Cancer Lymphedema Questionnaire (GCLQ-K) and the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Questionnaire-Core 30 (EORTC QLQ-C30). In total, 25 women with LLL and 28 women without LLL completed both questionnaires.ResultsThe GCLQ-K total symptom score and scores for swelling-general, swelling-limb, and heaviness were significantly higher in the LLL group than in the control group. In the EORTC QLQ-C30, the LLL group reported more financial difficulties compared to the control group (mean score, 16.0 vs. 6.0; P = 0.035). Global health status was poorer in the LLL group with borderline statistical significance (mean score, 62.7 vs. 71.4; P = 0.069). Spearman's correlations suggested that global health status in the EORTC QLQ-C30 correlated with the GCLQ-K total symptom score (in the LLL group, R = −0.64, P = 0.001; in the control group, R = −0.42, P = 0.027).ConclusionsQOL decreases due to LLL-related symptoms and financial difficulty in women with LLL. Well-designed prospective studies are required to confirm these findings.