Grant: Operating Grant

Our research indicates that over 50% of breast cancer survivors may experience arm problems after treatment. These problems can be disabling, but few researchers have examined the impact of these challenges on women's everyday lives, and there is no national rehabilitation program for disability after breast cancer. Very little is known about how arm problems affect paid and unpaid labour, intimacy, and child care, or the relationship between arm problems and other illnesses. The lack of research has left health care professionals and breast cancer survivors ill-equipped to address arm problems. Our team has enrolled 745 women in Phase I of our study (2005-2008). In our newly proposed Phase II, we will follow these 745 women over a 5 year period in order to learn how many women will develop arm problems and what types of symptoms they have. More importantly, we will generate knowledge about the extent to which arm problems may be disabling and their impact on women's work, families and leisure activities. This research will help breast cancer survivors and their care providers to better understand and treat arm problems and disability. Phase II will advance knowledge in Canada and beyond, laying a solid foundation for cancer rehabilitation and related policy development.