Implications of Mobility Impairment on the Diagnosis and Treatment of Breast Cancer

JOURNAL OF WOMEN’S HEALTH, 2011 · DOI: 10.1089=jwh.2009.1831 · Published: January 1, 2011

Simple Explanation

The study explores how mobility impairments affect the diagnosis and treatment of early-stage breast cancer in women with preexisting mobility difficulties. Many women reported difficulty obtaining mammograms due to inaccessible equipment, positioning problems, and uncontrollable movements. Mobility impairments can affect women at every point during early-stage breast cancer diagnosis, therapy, and recovery.

Study Duration

December 2007 to October 2008

Participants

20 English-speaking women with early-stage breast cancer, <60 years of age, with chronic difficulty walking or used wheeled mobility aids

Evidence Level

Qualitative analysis of interview transcripts

Key Findings

1
Inaccessible equipment was a primary problem during mammograms, especially for women who could not stand.
2
Seven interviewees made breast cancer treatment decisions explicitly because of concerns about how various therapies would affect their arms, which are essential to their mobility.
3
Managing at home after surgery posed major mobility challenges, especially for women who lived alone.

Research Summary

Mobility impairments can affect women at every point during early-stage breast cancer diagnosis, therapy, and recovery. Clinicians must consider women’s mobility functioning in making therapeutic recommendations to women with impaired mobility who develop breast cancer. Careful attention to mobility issues—patients in partnership with multidisciplinary teams of clinicians—is essential to achieving this functional outcome.

Practical Implications

Accessible Equipment and Procedures

Healthcare facilities should invest in adjustable equipment and develop procedures to accommodate patients with mobility limitations.

Multidisciplinary Care Teams

Involve specialists like physical and occupational therapists to address mobility concerns throughout diagnosis, treatment, and recovery.

Individualized Treatment Plans

Develop tailored treatment plans that consider the impact of each therapy on a patient’s mobility, strength, and functional independence.

Study Limitations

1
Generalizability from the study population
2
Limited racial and ethnic diversity among participants
3
The breast cancer experiences of our study sample spanned several decades, raising questions about the relevance of some of the older experiences for today.

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