Effect of Arm Massage on Reduction of Lymphedema and Perceived Discomfort among Patients with Mastectomy in Selected Hospital Trichy

Breast cancer is the most common cancer among women. The incidence of breast cancer continues to increase partly as a result of the steady aging of the population, and partly because of improved diagnostic technology. After modified radical mastectomy the rates of pain is an unpleasant and highly personal experience and post –operative lymphedema of the arm is highly incidence .The aim of the study was to evaluate the effectiveness of arm massage on lymphedema and perceived discomfort among patients with mastectomy in experimental group. The research design used in the study was Quasi experimental design non-equalvent control group research design. Data collection was done by screening the patients with mastectomy. 30 subjects were in experimental group. 30 subjects were in control group. They were selected by non randomized sampling technique. Data collection done by perceived discomfort profoma, circumferential arm measurement used to collect the data. The pre test level of perceived discomfort 28 (98.33%) had severe discomfort. In post test level of perceived discomfort 20 (66.67%) had mild discomfort in experimental group. In experimental group were having pre test level of lymphedema 19 (63.33%) had severe lymphedema. In post test level of lymphedema 30(100%) had mild lymphedema. The calculated pre test perceived discomfort mean score was 21.57 with standard deviation of 2.80 and post test mean score was 8.97 with standard deviation of 2.86 and mean difference was 12.60 calculated ‘t’ value was 20.673.which showed that there was a significance difference between the pre test and post test score of effectiveness of arm massage among patients with mastectomy in experimental group at p < 0.05 level of significance. The calculated pre test lymphedema mean score was 1.67 with standard deviation of 0.545 and post test mean score was 0.35 with standard deviation of 0.384 and mean difference was 1.32 calculated ‘t’ value was 10.56.which showed that there was a significance difference between the pre test and post test score of effectiveness of arm massage among patients with mastectomy in experimental group at p < 0.05 level of significance. The calculated ‘t’ value t=6.322 indicating the difference between post test of perceived discomfort in experimental group and control group at p < 0.05 level. The calculated ‘t’ value t = 9.794 indicating the difference between post test of Lymphedema in experimental group and control group at p < 0.05 level. The outcome of the study it was evident that the arm massage for mastectomy patients was effective