Quality of life and climacteric symptoms in women with endometrial cancer: examining the impact of lower limb lymphedema

Background: Women undergoing treatment for endometrial cancer (EC) often experience climacteric-like symptoms, and some may develop lower limb lymphedema (LLL). LLL can significantly impact women’s quality of life (QoL) and exacerbate climacteric symptoms. In this study, we investigated the prevalence of LLL and explored the differences in climacteric symptoms and QoL between women with and without LLL. Methods: A cross-sectional, observational, and comparative study design was employed. Clinical data for 105 women diagnosed with EC were gathered, encompassing demographic details, LLL, climacteric symptoms, and QoL. Instruments used included a demographic-disease survey, the Gynecological Cancer Lymphedema Questionnaire, the Greene Climacteric Scale, and EORTC QLQ-C30 and QLQ-EN24 questionnaires. Descriptive statistics and independent-sample t-tests were utilized for data analysis. Results: In this study, 39% of women with EC experienced LLL, with primary symptoms being aching, heaviness, and swelling. Women with LLL also had significantly more severe climacteric symptoms, including anxiety, depression, and vasomotor issues, and they reported poorer physical, role, emotional, cognitive, and social functioning. Additionally, they faced increased fatigue, pain, dyspnea, and more severe specific symptoms like lymphedema, urological and gastrointestinal issues, body image concerns, back/pelvic pain, and hair loss compared to those without LLL. Conclusion: The findings of this study enhance understanding of the impact of LLL on climacteric symptoms and QoL in women with EC. Health-care professionals, when advising treatment for EC, should inform women about the likelihood of LLL and assist in early management of its symptoms during and after EC treatment.