Long-term survival following breast cancer treatment is improving due to early detection and improved modalities of treatment. However, breast cancer survivors frequently experience symptom clusters such as pain, fatigue and psychological distress. A symptom cluster is defined as a group of co-occurring symptoms that occur together and persist across different time points of symptom assessment and has a common aetiology, enabling effective interventions to be developed. More info :drmohaghegh.com.au

This systematic review was conducted to assess the evidence on symptom clusters in breast cancer patients before, during and after cancer treatment. Titles and abstracts were independently screened by two authors to identify eligible studies. The full text of those eligible articles was then fully examined to verify eligibility. Data were extracted from the eligible studies and included symptom identification methods, sample size, symptom clusters identified and symptoms in each cluster. The results of the study showed that symptom clusters change in composition during and after cancer treatment.

The Multidisciplinary Approach Behind Breast Surgery Clusters

During a lumpectomy, also known as a partial mastectomy, a surgeon removes the part of your breast that has cancer and some healthy tissue around it. A lumpectomy can be done with or without nipple removal and with or without lymph node removal. The surgeon may also do a modified radical mastectomy, which is when the entire breast, the nipple and the tissues that cover your chest muscles and the lymph nodes in the armpit are removed.

During a sentinel lymph node biopsy, a healthcare professional injects a radioactive tracer or a blue dye into your armpit to find out if any of your lymph nodes contain cancer. Lymph nodes are small, bean-shaped organs that make and filter a colorless fluid called lymph (which contains white blood cells that help fight infection). You might have lymph nodes under your armpit, in the side of your neck or collarbone or in the chest.