Physical symptoms and working performance in female breast cancer survivors: a systematic review

Purpose: The aim of this systematic review was to summarize and systematize the information about physical symptoms and its relation with work activity on female Breast Cancer Survivors (BCS).

Methods: A systematic search was performed on the databases MEDLINE/PubMed (via National Library of Medicine), SCOPUS (Elsevier), Web of Science (Thomson Reuters Scientific) and CINAHL with full text (EBSCO), including papers about physical impairments experienced by female workers who have had breast cancer.

Results: The search retrieved 238 studies, and another 5 were identified in the articles’ references, totaling 243 papers. After removing duplicates and applying the inclusion criteria and a full text reading, 13 articles were included for qualitative analysis. Concerning physical limitations, most complaints were related to the elevation of upper limbs, carrying heavy objects, driving and holding manual movements. The most referred symptoms were breast/arm pain, fatigue, lymphedema, reduced range of motion and weakness in the upper limbs, scar tissue adherence in the breast/axilla and paresthesia in the arm/breast.

Conclusion: These symptoms and physical limitations led to the difficulty or impossibility of performing work tasks, which also diminished work productivity, as well as the increase in time to return to work. The present results suggest higher unemployment rates and the need for modifying work conditions.

• Implication for Rehabilitation

• Health professionals should include risk assessment at daily routine to identify possible sources of physical impairments for upper limbs.

• Provide the support and orientations according to personal and job characteristics of the patient.

• Focus the aims of treatment over upper limbs impairments, reducing the prevalence and the gravity of symptoms.