Investigation of short-term changes in body composition of individuals with breast cancer using bioelectrical impedance analysis

Purpose: The aim of the study was to examine the changes in body composition in the early postoperative period in individuals who underwent breast cancer surgery.Materials and methods: The body composition of 50 women scheduled for surgery (mean age 52.46±10.19 years) was assessed using bioelectrical impedance analysis before, 7 days after, and 6 months after surgery. Participants were divided into subgroups: body mass index<30 and ≥30 group, axillary lymph node dissection and sentinel lymph node biopsy group, neoadjuvant and non-neoadjuvant chemotherapy group, and radiotherapy and non-radiotherapy group. Body compositions were compared.Results: Participants' weight and BMI (body mass index) decreased postoperatively but increased after 6 months (p<0.05). In the BMI<30 group, weight, BMI, and body fat percentage increased (p<0.05); visceral fat level and body water percentage decreased (p<0.05). Body fat percentage and visceral fat level increased in the axillary lymph node dissection group (p<0.05). BMI, body fat percentage, and visceral fat levels increased (p<0.05); muscle mass and body water percentage decreased (p<0.05) in the neoadjuvant chemotherapy group. There were increases in the radiotherapy group; in terms of weight, BMI, body fat percentage, and visceral fat levels (p<0.05); and body water percentage decreased (p<0.05). No significant change was observed in the body composition of the sentinel lymph node biopsy group, non-neoadjuvant chemotherapy, or non-radiotherapy (p>0.05).Conclusion: Body composition in breast cancer patients changed towards an increase in body adiposity in the early postoperative period. More pronounced changes were observed in patients with a BMI<30 who underwent axillary lymph node dissection and received neoadjuvant chemotherapy or radiotherapy.