• Frequency and severity of symptom distress, pathological conditions, physical impairments, functional limitations, and disabilities
  
• Level of physical impairment and physical performance in patients who have lost independence in function
  
• Risk of developing physical impairments, loss of independence of function, and disability
  

OBJECTIVES:

• To determine the frequency and severity of symptom distress (i.e., fatigue, pain [including chronic pain, aching, weakness, burning, tingling, and numbness], anxiety, and depression) and pathological conditions (i.e., adhesive capsulitis, weakness and atrophy, neuropathy, scar/skin adhesions, and lymphedema) in patients with breast cancer.
• To determine the frequency and severity of physical impairments (i.e., diminished upper extremity and trunk range of motion/flexibility, strength, coordination, and increased girth).
• To determine the frequency and severity of functional limitations and disabilities during the course of medical treatment (i.e., loss of independence in or ability to perform routine activities of daily living [ADLs] [i.e., grooming, bathing, dressing, driving an automobile, and, in some cases, returning to regular work], and recreational and social activities).
• To determine the level of physical impairment and physical performance in patients who have lost independence in function (i.e., ADLs).
• To determine which patients are at higher risk for development of these impairments, loss of independence of function, and disability.

OUTLINE: This is a retrospective, case-controlled, multicenter study.

Information about demographics; past medical history; family history; current medical illness and treatment; pain history; and social, physical, and recreational activities is obtained by patient interview and medical record review at baseline and at 1, 3, 6, 9, and 12 months. Patients undergo standard upper body clinical physical exams and testing (including inspection, active and passive range of motion, manual muscle testing, and upper limb lift testing) by a physical therapist at the same time points. Patients also complete the Harvard Alumni Health Study Physical Activity Questionnaire, Upper Limb Disability Questionnaire, and Quality of Life Questionnaire (SF-36v2) at 6 and 12 months.

After completion of study treatment, patients are followed at 5 years.