Study Background
Arm Morbidity following Tailored Axillary Surgery for Node-Positive Breast Cancer (ARMOR)
Patients with node-positive breast cancer have historically undergone an axillary lymph node dissection (ALND) as part of their surgical treatment. During ALND surgery, all lymph nodes under the arm are removed to be checked to see if they contain cancer and if so, how far the cancer has spread.
Nearly half of patients who undergo an ALND report having long-term symptoms in the arm following the surgery. These symptoms can include stiffness or tightness in the arm, restricted movement, swelling and pain and can lead to a reduced quality of life.
A new surgical procedure, Tailored Axillary Surgery (TAS) has been developed during which the surgeon is more selective in the number of lymph nodes removed. During TAS the surgeon only removes any lymph nodes that appear to be cancerous along with the nodes the cancer is most likely to have spread to.
Studies have shown that TAS is just as safe for patients as ALND in terms of cancer outcomes, but little research has been done into the side effects of TAS, including whether TAS reduces arm symptoms after surgery. No research, as of now, has compared the side effects of TAS and ALND from a patient perspective.
About ARMOR
ARMOR is looking to enroll patients with node positive breast cancer from four centres across Alberta who will receive either ALND or TAS to study post-surgery arm symptoms for those who had ALND surgery and those who undergo TAS. The choice of surgery is made by the treating surgeon. Your participation in ARMOR will not change the surgery you will be having.
ARMOR is led by Dr. Alison Laws, a breast surgeon based at the University of Calgary. The study is being managed by a team also from the University of Calgary.
What will I be asked to do?
· Complete a series of patient surveys on enrollment of the study and then at 1 month, 1 year and 2 years following surgery.
- Surveys will be sent and completed electronically.
- The surveys will take approximately 15-20 minutes to complete.
- Participants will receive a $25 gift card for each set of surveys completed.
· Consent for the ARMOR study staff to access medical charts to allow the study team to collect relevant information related to your lymph node surgery and follow-up care.
Study Eligibility
- Be diagnosed with node-positive breast cancer (cT1-3 cN1 hormone receptor positive HER2 negative breast cancer).
- Having surgery as initial (first) treatment including either an ALND or TAS as part of the surgical treatment plan.
Contact Us
For further information please contact us at: armor@ucalgary.ca
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