A COMPARISON OF PULMONARY FUNCTION AND RESPIRATORY MUSCLE STRENGTH BETWEEN BREAST CANCER SURVIVORS AND HEALTHY SUBJECTS

Purpose: Breast cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer in women in Turkey as well as all over the world. Treatments may affect respiratory function. The purpose of the study was to compare pulmonary function and respiratory muscle strength in women with breast cancer and healthy subjects. Methods: A total of 40 women, 20 women with breast cancer (Stage I and II, age: 43.6 +/- 4.7 years, disease duration: 5.3 +/- 0.4 years) and 20 healthy volunteers (age: 40.1 +/- 8.3 years), were included in the study. Subjects' physical and demographic characteristics were recorded. Time from the diagnosis and medical treatments were recorded. Pulmonary function testing was performed. Forced vital capacity (FVC), forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1), FEV1/FVC ratio, peak expiratory flow rate (PEF) and forced expiratory flow from 25% to 75% (FEF25-75%) were recorded. Inspiratory and expiratory muscle strength (MIP and MEP, respectively) was measured using a portable mouth pressure device. Results: Breast cancer patients' FEV1, FEV1/FVC ratio, PEF, and FEF25-75% values were significantly lower than those of healthy subjects (p<0.05). There were no statistically significant differences in MIP and MEP between the groups (p>0.05). Conclusion: According to the results of the study, pulmonary function testing in patients with breast cancer is affected whereas respiratory muscle strength was preserved. Assessment of pulmonary function is thought to be necessary in individuals with breast cancer beginning from the diagnosis of the disease.