Learning Objective #1: tell how Korean women experience neuropathic sensations after total mastectomy with axillary lymphnode dissection or lumpectomy with sentinel lymphnode biopsy.

Learning Objective #2: tell the breast cancer patients after total mastectomy with axillary lymphnode dissection or lumpectomy with sentinel lymphnode biopsy suffer from neuropatic sensatons

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Background: Limited studies regarding assessment of the neuropathic sensations after breast surgery have been found in Korea. Objectives : The purposes of this study were to 1) describe experience of Korean women¡¯s neuropathic sensations characterized by prevalence, frequency, severity, distress and influence on ADL using Roberta¡¯s BSAS(Breast Sensation Assessment Scale), and 2) to find the other sensation expressions not included in the BSAS, using qualitative interview. Theoretical framework: The breast cancer patients after breast surgery dealing with axillar lymph node can experience neuropathic sensations caused by injury of the intercostobrachial nerve and the thoracodorsal. Sensory perception and response are influenced by culture, social, and race background.. Methods: The data was obtained with a convenience sample of 32 Korean women in post- operative of 3 days to 100 days with axillary lymph node dissection and sentinel lymph node biopsy. Roberta¡¯s Breast Sensation Assessment Scale and interview were used for data collection. The BSAS was translated in reference to the KPRS(Korean Pain Rating Scale). Then, the translated scale was validated by two Americans living in Korea and a professor of nursing who is involved in pain research. The scale showed high reliability in test-retest and Cronbach¡¯s alpha. Results: 32 women have experienced at least 2 sensations and certain sensations remain prevalent (tender, pull, pain), frequent (numb, nag, throb), severe(throb, shoot, numb), distressful(throb, penetrate, shoot). Korean women added expressions such as itching , numbness on the finger tips, feeling heavy, feeling like falling down, weakness of arms, pricking like seasoning red pepper, feeling of something crawling and heat rash. Conclusion: Korean women after breast surgery suffer from neuropathic sensations with some different expressions from those in Roberta¡¯s BSAS. There¡¯s a need to modify Roberta¡¯s BSAS into Korean version BSAS for assessing the neuropathic sensations experienced by Korean women after breast surgery.