{
  "abstract": "Background\n\nLymphoedema of the breast is a potential consequence of breast cancer treatment. Questionnaires exist to quantify breast symptoms but evidence for measurement properties is limited. This study aimed to evaluate measurement properties of breast lymphoedema questionnaires and report on frequency and severity of breast symptoms in women with breast cancer.Methods\n\nWomen following breast conserving surgery and radiotherapy were recruited. Four questionnaires, Breast Lymphoedema Severity Symptom questionnaire (BLYSS), European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Questionnaire - Breast Symptom Subscale (EORTC-QLQ-BSS), Lymphoedema Symptom Intensity and Distress scale-Trunk (LSIDS-T) and Breast Oedema Bother scale (BOB), were completed three and nine-months after radiotherapy. Measurement properties and breast symptoms were evaluated.Results\n\nQuestionnaires were completed by 164 women at three-months, and 152 at nine-months post radiotherapy. Internal consistency was strong for all questionnaires (McDonald's Omega and Cronbach's ⍺ ≥0.7). Correlation between BLYSS and EORTC-QLQ-BSS and BOB visual analogue scale (BOB-VAS) met the hypothesised level (rs ≥ 0.7) demonstrating construct validity. Exploratory factor analysis demonstrated single factors for individual tools and four factors when all four questionnaires were combined: pain, swelling, breast sensations and hardness. Responsiveness was high for BLYSS and moderate for EORTC-QLQ-BSS and BOB-VAS. Over half the women experienced symptoms ≥twice/week at mild-extreme severity. Breast pain, hardness, oversensitivity and swelling were most reported symptoms.Conclusion\n\nThe BLYSS demonstrated the strongest measurement properties among the PROMs evaluated with strong internal consistency, construct validity and responsiveness. Breast symptoms were commonly experienced by women after breast cancer treatment.",
  "abstract_shown": true,
  "affiliations": [
    "Sydney School of Health Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia.",
    "Westmead Breast Cancer Institute, Westmead Hospital, Westmead, PO Box 143, Sydney, NSW, Australia.",
    "Sydney Medical School, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia.",
    "Sydney West Radiation Oncology Network, Westmead Hospital, Sydney, NSW, Australia.",
    "Stats Central, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, Australia.",
    "Westmead Breast Cancer Institute, Westmead Hospital, Westmead, PO Box 143, Sydney, NSW, Australia. Kirsty.stuart@health.nsw.gov.au.",
    "Sydney Medical School, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia. Kirsty.stuart@health.nsw.gov.au.",
    "Sydney West Radiation Oncology Network, Westmead Hospital, Sydney, NSW, Australia. Kirsty.stuart@health.nsw.gov.au."
  ],
  "article_type": "research article",
  "arxiv": null,
  "author_total": 10,
  "authors": [
    {
      "affs": [
        0
      ],
      "name": "Nicola Fearn",
      "orcid": "0000-0002-9332-1043"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        0
      ],
      "name": "Sharon Kilbreath",
      "orcid": "0000-0002-8024-8641"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        0
      ],
      "name": "Elizabeth Dylke",
      "orcid": "0000-0002-7115-8142"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        1,
        2,
        3
      ],
      "name": "Wei Wang",
      "orcid": "0000-0002-1710-0919"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        0
      ],
      "name": "Catalina Llanos",
      "orcid": "0000-0002-3373-1614"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        1,
        3
      ],
      "name": "Verity Ahern",
      "orcid": "0000-0001-8911-2727"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        1,
        2
      ],
      "name": "Elisabeth Elder",
      "orcid": "0000-0002-6686-9898"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        1,
        2
      ],
      "name": "Farid Meybodi",
      "orcid": "0000-0003-2556-2424"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        4
      ],
      "name": "Nicholas Olsen",
      "orcid": "0000-0001-7990-3197"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        5,
        6,
        7
      ],
      "name": "Kirsty Stuart",
      "orcid": "0000-0001-5550-0377"
    }
  ],
  "bibtex": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/8bgxcj0wf3pty.bib",
  "cited_by": 0,
  "doi": "10.1007/s12282-026-01919-3",
  "fulltext_url": "https://europepmc.org/articles/PMC13695621",
  "id": "8bgxcj0wf3pty",
  "issns": [
    "1340-6868",
    "1880-4233"
  ],
  "landing_url": "https://europepmc.org/article/MED/42848159",
  "language": "eng",
  "licence": "CC-BY",
  "licence_label": "CC BY",
  "licence_source": "article",
  "licence_url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/",
  "metadata_licence": null,
  "native_subjects": [
    [
      "openalex",
      "2730|Lymphatic System and Diseases"
    ]
  ],
  "openalex": "W7221021599",
  "pdf_url": "https://europepmc.org/articles/PMC13695621?pdf=render",
  "pmcid": "PMC13695621",
  "pmid": "42848159",
  "published": "2026-10-08",
  "publisher": null,
  "ris": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/8bgxcj0wf3pty.ris",
  "sources": [
    {
      "first_seen": "2026-10-30T12:18:02Z",
      "native_id": "MED:42848159",
      "source": "europepmc",
      "url": "https://europepmc.org/article/MED/42848159"
    }
  ],
  "subjects": [
    {
      "field": "medicine",
      "origin": "openalex:2730|Lymphatic System and Diseases",
      "subfield": "oncology"
    }
  ],
  "title": "Comparison of four breast lymphoedema patient reported outcome measures in women following breast conserving surgery and radiotherapy: examination of frequencies of symptoms and measurement properties.",
  "title_text": "Comparison of four breast lymphoedema patient reported outcome measures in women following breast conserving surgery and radiotherapy: examination of frequencies of symptoms and measurement properties.",
  "type": "peer-reviewed",
  "updated_at": "2026-10-30T12:18:02Z",
  "url": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/8bgxcj0wf3pty",
  "venue": "Breast cancer (Tokyo, Japan)",
  "versions": []
}