RRL
RRL
RRL
review by: Nara Fernanda Braz da Silva Leal, et al., oct 2009
Breast cancer is the second most frequent cancer among women. Surgery is part of the
therapeutic process to prevent metastases, but it can also cause some complications,
including lymphedema. Physiotherapy contributes to its treatment, using different
techniques that have been developed over the years. This systematic literature review
aims to present physiotherapy modalities applied for lymphedema therapy.
Physiotherapy resources used for lymphedema treatment include complex
decongestive therapy (CDT), pneumatic compression (PC), high voltage electrical
stimulation (HVES) and laser therapy. The analyzed literature shows that better results
are obtained with combined techniques. CDT is the most used protocol, and its
association with PC has demonstrated efficacy. The new techniques HVES and laser
present satisfactory results. (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19967225)
Due to the influence of various psychological, social, and cultural factors on breast
cancer, women are reluctant to screen their breast cancer symptoms at the early stages
when treatment is most expected to be successful. Screening options for Asian women
are also limited because of demographic constrains and their knowledge of preventive
health measures. This paper proceeds to review the existing literature on factors
influencing breast cancer screening among Asian women. For the most part, health care
professionals, medical doctors, gynecologists, and breast cancer advocates should find
actual ways to overcome psychological barriers such as beliefs about pain, fear,
embarrassment, and modesty of women through public awareness campaigns.
Considerable attention should be also devoted to lower socioeconomic status women.
In the same way, health care providers should explain to the women about the
importance of breast cancer as a common disease and the existence of breast cancer
screening programs in a small scale approach, as well as the benefits that participation
in these programs can offer. This initiative is about enhancing health status among
women and it is part of community development endeavor.
[Maryam Ahmadian, Asnarulkhadi Abu Samah. A Literature Review of Factors
Influencing Breast Cancer Screening in Asian Countries. Life Sci J 2012]
(http://www.lifesciencesite.com/lsj/life0902/090_8929life0902_585_594.pdf)