Impact of alopecia and scalp cooling on the well-being of breast cancer patients

Purpose: Scalp cooling (SC) offers a chance to reduce hair loss (HL), but patient satisfaction, the effect on well-being, as well as patient selection criteria have not been sufficiently assessed yet. Methods: In the EVAScalp trial, SC was offered to 70 breast cancer patients who received chemotherapy between November 2015 and September 2018. For SC, the Paxman-Orbis-II System was used. Satisfaction was measured by a questionnaire evaluating the level of depression with the WHO-5 well-being index (WHO-5) plus questions addressing the patient’s experiences and side effects using the SC device. To evaluate efficacy, documentation by photo, by a physician, and by an HL-diary was conducted. Results: Regarding efficacy, a significant difference between chemotherapy regimens is seen. Anthracycline-based therapies led to a stop of SC in 71% of the patients, whereas taxane-based therapies without anthracyclines were associated with a high acceptance of SC, and 88% of patients with paclitaxel-based therapies continued SC throughout their chemotherapy. Overall, only 7.69% of the patients stopped because of side effects. As an indicator for quality of life, WHO-5 was higher (65.8%) in patients with successful SC compared to in patients who stopped SC because of HL or side effects (only 53.0%). The majority of patients (82.22%) with successful SC would recommend SC to other patients. Conclusions: Patients tolerated SC as long as HL was successfully prevented. The well-being of patients with successful SC was significantly higher than that of patients who stopped SC prematurely. In general, SC is a promising approach and improves patient well-being, but there are still limitations to its utility depending on the chemotherapy regimen used.

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Associations between coping strategies and well-being among breast cancer patients: A meta-analysis

PsycEXTRA Dataset ◽

10.1037/e546872013-011 ◽

2013 ◽

Author(s):

Richard Branstrom ◽

Pia Kvillemo

Keyword(s):

Breast Cancer ◽

Coping Strategies ◽

Cancer Patients ◽

Meta Analysis ◽

Well Being ◽

Breast Cancer Patients

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Safety of Lower Scalp Cooling Temperature to Prevent Hair Loss From Chemotherapy in Breast Cancer Patients

Case Medical Research ◽

10.31525/ct1-nct04180579 ◽

2019 ◽

Author(s):

Keyword(s):

Breast Cancer ◽

Cancer Patients ◽

Hair Loss ◽

Scalp Cooling ◽

Breast Cancer Patients ◽

Cooling Temperature

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Hair Loss Prevention by a Scalp Cooling Device in Early Breast Cancer Patients: The Poliambulanza Preliminary Experience

Reviews on Recent Clinical Trials ◽

10.2174/1574887113666181120111104 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 14 (1) ◽

pp. 66-71 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Tiziana Prochilo ◽

Alessandra Huscher ◽

Federica Andreis ◽

Mara Mirandola ◽

Elisabetta Zaina ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Breast Cancer ◽

Cancer Patients ◽

Hair Loss ◽

Depression Scale ◽

Hair Follicles ◽

Common Side Effect ◽

Scalp Cooling ◽

Breast Cancer Patients ◽

Cooling Device ◽

End Of Treatment

Background: The most effective agents in the treatment of breast cancer have a common side effect, the hair loss. Some studies reported a reduction of hair loss with the use of the scalp cooling device. Indeed, it decreases the drug accumulation in the hair follicles. We report our preliminary experience with a scalp cooling device in reducing chemotherapy-induced alopecia and related distress in breast cancer patients undergoing adjuvant chemotherapy. </P><P> Methods: Hair loss grading and treatment tolerability were evaluated during chemotherapy every 21 days and 3 weeks after the last cycle of chemotherapy via Dean’s scale by patients and operators and a comfort analogic scale by patients. We administered the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale questionnaire at the baseline and at the end of treatment to assess the distress related to chemotherapy- induced alopecia. Results: Among the 46 patients identified, 27 accepted the device. The eligible chemotherapy regimens included docetaxel+cyclophosphamide (TC), doxorubicin+cyclophosphamide (AC) and paclitaxel (P) weekly+trastuzumab (T). 24 pts (89%) completed the treatment; 3 pts (11%) treated with AC prematurely interrupted use of the scalp-cooling device due to inefficacy. After the last cycle of chemotherapy, the number of patient who perceived a HL < grade 2 was 16 (59%). The hair retention reported by operators has been higher (78%). 81.5% of patients well tolerated the treatment. Conclusion: In our study, the scalp-cooling device reduced chemotherapy-induced alopecia in taxane- based chemotherapy. Furthermore, it suggests a discordance in hair loss perception between patients and operators.

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Prospective study of hair recovery after (neo)adjuvant chemotherapy with scalp cooling in Japanese breast cancer patients

Supportive Care in Cancer ◽

10.1007/s00520-021-06168-y ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Shozo Ohsumi ◽

Sachiko Kiyoto ◽

Mina Takahashi ◽

Seiki Takashima ◽

Kenjiro Aogi ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Breast Cancer ◽

Adjuvant Chemotherapy ◽

Prospective Study ◽

Cancer Patients ◽

Scalp Cooling ◽

Breast Cancer Patients ◽

Chemotherapy Infusion ◽

Group A ◽

Neo Adjuvant Chemotherapy ◽

Group B

Abstract Purpose Scalp cooling during chemotherapy infusion to mitigate alopecia for breast cancer patients is becoming widespread; however, studies regarding hair recovery after chemotherapy with scalp cooling are limited. We conducted a prospective study of hair recovery after chemotherapy with scalp cooling. Patients and methods One hundred and seventeen Japanese female breast cancer patients who completed planned (neo)adjuvant chemotherapy using the Paxman Scalp Cooling System for alopecia prevention were evaluated for alopecia prevention in our prospective study. We evaluated their hair recovery 1, 4, 7, 10, and 13 months after chemotherapy. Primary outcomes were grades of alopecia judged by two investigators (objective grades) and patients’ answers to the questionnaire regarding the use of a wig or hat (subjective grades). Results Of 117 patients, 75 completed scalp cooling during the planned chemotherapy cycles (Group A), but 42 discontinued it mostly after the first cycle (Group B). Objective and subjective grades were significantly better in Group A than in Group B throughout 1 year, and at 4 and 7 months after chemotherapy. When we restricted patients to those with objective Grade 3 (hair loss of > 50%) at 1 month, Group A exhibited slightly faster hair recovery based on the objective grades than Group B. There was less persistent alopecia in Group A than in Group B. Conclusions Scalp cooling during chemotherapy infusion for Japanese breast cancer patients increased the rate of hair recovery and had preventive effects against persistent alopecia.

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Aesthetic outcome and patient’s quality of life in breast cancer patients undergoing mastectomy with or without immediate reconstruction.

Journal of Clinical Oncology ◽

10.1200/jco.2021.39.15_suppl.e12587 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 39 (15_suppl) ◽

pp. e12587-e12587

Author(s):

Sidra Afzal ◽

Asad Parvaiz ◽

Nida Javed

Keyword(s):

Breast Cancer ◽

Cancer Patients ◽

Well Being ◽

Mean Difference ◽

Breast Cancer Patients ◽

Immediate Reconstruction ◽

Patient’S Satisfaction ◽

Group A ◽

The Mean ◽

Group B

e12587 Background: : Although post mastectomy Immediate breast reconstruction has shown to improve physical and psychosocial well-being of breast cancer patients, this is not a usual procedure in Pakistan due to limited resources and lack of awareness. The aim of our study is to evaluate patient’s satisfaction/ aesthetic outcomes between the patients undergoing mastectomy alone (Group A) and the ones undergoing mastectomy followed by immediate reconstruction (Group B). Methods: This is a prospective study conducted at Shaukat Khanum Hospital Pakistan comparing aesthetic outcome, patient’s satisfaction and Quality of life between two groups using Breast Q module. All patients undergoing mastectomy with and without reconstruction between April 2017 to July 2019 are included. Sample size of 84 was calculated (42 in each group). Results: The mean Q score of satisfaction with the breast in group B is 82.64 and in group A is 35.82 (P = 0.001). The mean Q score of Psychosocial well-being in group B is 89 vs 44.95 in group A (P = 0.001). The mean Q score of Physical well-being in group B is 98.23 vs 90.41 in group A (P = 0.002). The mean Q score of sexual well-being in group B is 81.93 vs 43 in Group A (P = 0.001). [Mean difference in score of 5-10 - little change, 10-20 - moderate change, > 20 - significant change].The mean difference between two groups in satisfaction with breast , psychosocial well-being and sexual well-being is more than 20 with a statistically significant p-value, while in physical well-being the mean difference is 7.8 which falls in little change group. Conclusions: Our study shows that reconstruction helps breast cancer patients in providing comprehensive care in a manner that they achieve a higher satisfaction with their appearance, psychological and sexual well-being without compromising oncological safety and this should be practiced more in our country. Also patients education about these procedures should be raised to help them fighting against this disease

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Distress and emotional well-being in breast cancer patients prior to radiotherapy: an expectancy-based model

Psychology and Health ◽

10.1080/08870446.2011.569714 ◽

2012 ◽

Vol 27 (3) ◽

pp. 347-361 ◽

Cited By ~ 9

Author(s):

Stephanie J. Sohl ◽

Julie B. Schnur ◽

Madalina Sucala ◽

Daniel David ◽

Gary Winkel ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Breast Cancer ◽

Cancer Patients ◽

Well Being ◽

Breast Cancer Patients

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Key Factors Contributing to Quality of Life for Breast Cancer Patients in Latvia: Supplementing Quantitative Surveys with Qualitative Interviews

Acta Chirurgica Latviensis ◽

10.2478/v10163-012-0001-0 ◽

2012 ◽

Vol 12 (1) ◽

pp. 3-10 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Agnese Dzērvīte ◽

Maruta Pranka ◽

Tana Lace ◽

Ritma Rungule ◽

Edvins Miklasevics ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Breast Cancer ◽

Quality Of Life ◽

Cancer Patients ◽

Qualitative Interviews ◽

Treatment Strategies ◽

Well Being ◽

University Hospital ◽

Breast Cancer Patients ◽

Key Factors

Summary Introduction. Health related quality of life is a much debated topic in medicine with much quantitative and qualitative research contributing to the understanding of how to improve the lives of patients, yet little has been published in relation to the quality of life of Latvian breast cancer patients. Aim of the Study. To gather base measurements of subjective and objective quality of life factors for breast cancer patients in Latvia and discover which key factors contribute most to quality of life of Latvian breast cancer patients at the start of treatment. Materials and Methods. This paper presents data collected from April 2010 to June 2011 at the Pauls Stradins Clinical University hospital on key factors influencing quality of life for breast cancer patients: health and physical well-being; state of surroundings and environment; social support and functionality; financial state, employment and leisure. Quantitative survey material has been supplemented with insight from qualitative in-depth interviews to better explain the objective and subjective implications for breast cancer patients’ quality of life. Results. Interviewed breast cancer patients rated their quality of life as being average or good at the beginning of treatment. Negative factors contributing to lowered quality of life were mainly linked to patient financial, social and emotional state at the first weeks of treatment and correspond to previous research done in Latvia on quality of life issues. Conclusions. Further follow-up surveys will contribute to the evaluation of breast cancer patients’ needs while undergoing treatment to further improve treatment strategies, especially if validated quality of life measurement surveys were to be implemented in Latvian hospitals.

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Quality of Life and Well-Being of Breast Cancer Patients

Advances in Psychology, Mental Health, and Behavioral Studies - Psycho-Social Perspectives on Mental Health and Well-Being ◽

10.4018/978-1-7998-1185-5.ch004 ◽

2020 ◽

pp. 67-94

Author(s):

Melisa Anderson ◽

Dwayne Tucker ◽

Fabian G. Miller ◽

Kurt Vaz ◽

Lennox Anderson-Jackson ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Breast Cancer ◽

Quality Of Life ◽

Cancer Patients ◽

Negative Impact ◽

Well Being ◽

Treatment Modalities ◽

Physical Aspect ◽

Breast Cancer Patients ◽

Malignant Breast

Breast cancer is a disease in which there is increased proliferation of malignant breast cells. This disease is more likely to begin in the ducts or lobules rather than the connective tissue. Globally, breast cancer is the most regularly diagnosed cancer. It is also a leading cause of cancer-related mortality in females. While cancer of the breast affects the physical aspect of patients, it can also negatively impact the quality of life (QoL) of survivors. There is a dearth of information, especially in the last decade, on the negative impact of breast cancer and treatment modalities on the QoL of patients. This review of the literature will examine the QoL and well-being of breast cancer patients to present a current perspective on the topic. Major findings of past and present articles that have contributed to improving the care of breast cancer patients will be summarized and included.

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