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Background: The association between lymphedema of the arm and impaired health-related QoL (HR-QoL) has led to changes in clinical practice. However, data on lymphedema of the breast (ie, breast edema) are lacking. We prospectively evaluated patient-reported prevalence and determinants of breast edema and its effect on patient-reported HR-QoL and breast pain., Methods: We prospectively included 836 patients undergoing breast-conserving surgery followed by radiotherapy between October 2013 and October 2016 (UMBRELLA cohort). Patient-reported breast edema, HR-QoL, and breast pain were assessed by means of European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer-C30/BR23 before starting radiotherapy and at 3, 6, 12, and 18 months thereafter. We assessed which patient, tumor, and treatment characteristics were associated with breast edema. With mixed-effects models, we assessed the impact of breast edema on patient-reported HR-QoL domains and breast pain over time, adjusting for confounders., Results: Within a median follow-up of 28 months (interquartile range [IQR] = 15), 207 (24.8%) patients reported breast edema at some point in time. Prevalence of breast edema was highest at 6 months (12.4%, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 10.0 to 14.7). Larger tumor size, oncoplastic surgery, axillary lymph node dissection, locoregional radiotherapy, radiotherapy boost on the tumor bed, and adjuvant chemotherapy were associated with breast edema. Breast edema was independently associated with more breast pain and with poorer QoL, physical functioning, and body image., Conclusions: Breast edema occurs frequently within the first year after breast-conserving surgery and radiotherapy and is independently associated with impaired HR-QoL and more breast pain. This information is important for use in clinical practice and should be discussed with patients during shared decision making.

Background: Health apps are increasingly being used in clinical care and may hold significant theoretical potential. However, they are often implemented in clinical care before any research has been done to confirm actual benefits for patients, physicians, and researchers., Objective: This study aimed to explore experiences of patients and health care providers with the use of a supportive breast cancer app during the first 6 months following diagnosis, in terms of benefits for clinical practice and research purposes., Methods: Between June 2013 and April 2014, breast cancer patients of all ages were invited shortly after diagnosis to use a supportive breast cancer app, and were followed for 6 months. Patients were asked to use the app at their own convenience. In-depth interviews were conducted regularly with patients and their medical team (ie, physicians and nurses) to evaluate their experiences., Results: A total of 15 patients aged 30-63 years participated. The medical team consisted of 7 physicians and 3 specialized breast cancer nurses. Out of the 15 patients, 12 (80%) used the app to obtain information on breast cancer and treatment. A total of 11 out of 12 patients (92%) evaluated this information as useful. All 15 patients used the app to record consultations with practitioners, and 14 (93%) found this useful. Symptom registration was used by 8 out of 15 patients (53%), and was found useful by 4 out of these 8 patients (50%). Overall, 14 out of 15 patients (93%) would recommend the app to other patients. The app, in particular the recording function, was rated as useful by 9 out of 10 medical professionals (90%), and they reported that it did not increase consultation time. These 9 professionals would recommend the app to their patients., Conclusions: This evaluation of a supportive health app shows positive experiences among patients and their medical teams. Based on experiences in this study, patients may need to be actively encouraged to regularly register symptoms within health apps to generate sufficient patient-reported app data for use in clinical practice and scientific research., (©Danny A Young-Afat, Carla H van Gils, David J Bruinvels, Carmen C van der Pol, Arjen J Witkamp, Sieta Sijtsema, Yvette Jonasse, Rhodé M Bijlsma, Margreet G Ausems, Annelies M Bos, Desirée H van den Bongard, Helena M Verkooijen. Originally published in JMIR Cancer (http://cancer.jmir.org), 07.06.2016.)

The earliest reports on reconstructive surgery are more than two thousand years old. However, the most significant developments took place in the past four decades. At the beginning of the 21st century we are able to perform reconstructions with a moderate functional and good cosmetic result and limited donor site morbidity. The reconstructive options regarding the mammary region include application of mammary implantation only, and techniques in which autologous tissues are applied, with or without implantations. Autologous tissue is used in transposition of the M. latissimus dorsi, in application of the myocutaneous flap of the M. rectus abdominis ('transverse rectus abdominis myocutaneous flap' (TRAM flap)), which is refined in the 'deep inferior epigastric artery perforator' (DIEP) flap procedure.