A prospective cohort study of early discontinuation of adjuvant chemotherapy in women with breast cancer: the breast cancer quality of care study (BQUAL)

IntroductionThe improvement in breast cancer survival rates, along with the expected overdiagnosis and overtreatment associated with breast cancer screening, requires a comprehensive assessment of its burden. Neurological complications can have a devastating impact on these patients; neuropathic pain and chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy are among the most frequently reported. This project aims to understand the burden of neurological complications of breast cancer treatment in Northern Portugal, and their role as mediator of the impact of the treatment in different dimensions of the patients’ quality of life.Methods and analysisA prospective cohort study was designed to include 500 patients with breast cancer, to be followed for 3 years. The patients were recruited at the Portuguese Oncology Institute of Porto and evaluations were planned at different stages: pretreatment, after surgery, after chemotherapy (whenever applicable) and at 1 and 3 years after enrolment. Patients diagnosed with neuropathic pain or chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy (subcohorts), were also evaluated at the moment of confirmation of clinical diagnosis of the neurological complication and 6 months later. In each of the follow-up periods, a neurological examination has been performed by a neurologist. Data were collected on sociodemographic and clinical characteristics, quality of life, sleep quality, and anxiety and depression. Between January and December 2012, we recruited and conducted the baseline evaluation of 506 participants. The end of the follow-up period is scheduled for December 2015.Ethics and disseminationThe study protocol was approved by the Ethics Committee of the Portuguese Oncology Institute of Porto and all patients provided written informed consent. All study procedures were developed in order to assure data protection and confidentiality. Results from this project will be disseminated in international peer-reviewed journals and presented in relevant conferences.

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The Impact of Radiodermatitis on Breast Cancer Patients' Quality of Life During Radiotherapy: A Prospective Cohort Study

Journal of Pain and Symptom Management ◽

10.1016/j.jpainsymman.2019.03.017 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 58 (1) ◽

pp. 92-99.e1 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Marceila de Andrade Fuzissaki ◽

Carlos Eduardo Paiva ◽

Marco Antonio de Oliveira ◽

Paula Philbert Lajolo Canto ◽

Yara Cristina de Paiva Maia

Keyword(s):

Breast Cancer ◽

Quality Of Life ◽

Cohort Study ◽

Cancer Patients ◽

Prospective Cohort Study ◽

Prospective Cohort ◽

Breast Cancer Patients ◽

The Impact

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Noninitiation of Adjuvant Chemotherapy in Women With Localized Breast Cancer: The Breast Cancer Quality of Care Study

Breast Diseases A Year Book Quarterly ◽

10.1016/j.breastdis.2013.07.006 ◽

2013 ◽

Vol 24 (3) ◽

pp. 265-267

Author(s):

V.S. Blinder

Keyword(s):

Breast Cancer ◽

Quality Of Care ◽

Adjuvant Chemotherapy ◽

Care Study

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Prospective cohort study of quality of care (QC) and quality of life (QL) of palliative cancer patients in three different situations: In-patient hospitalization (IN), palliative care unit (PA) and home care (HO). Final analysis

Journal of Clinical Oncology ◽

10.1200/jco.2008.26.15_suppl.20670 ◽

2008 ◽

Vol 26 (15_suppl) ◽

pp. 20670-20670

Author(s):

G. Chvetzoff ◽

D. Pérol ◽

P. Rebattu ◽

Y. Devaux ◽

P. Saltel

Keyword(s):

Quality Of Life ◽

Palliative Care ◽

Cohort Study ◽

Quality Of Care ◽

Home Care ◽

Cancer Patients ◽

Prospective Cohort Study ◽

Prospective Cohort ◽

Final Analysis

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Chemotherapy in conjunction with traditional Chinese medicine for survival of patients with early female breast cancer: protocol for a non-randomized, single center prospective cohort study

Trials ◽

10.1186/s13063-019-3848-8 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 20 (1) ◽

Cited By ~ 4

Author(s):

Chien-Ting Liu ◽

Yen-Hao Chen ◽

Yu-Chuen Huang ◽

Shih-Yu Chen ◽

Ming-Yen Tsai

Keyword(s):

Breast Cancer ◽

Cohort Study ◽

Chinese Medicine ◽

Side Effects ◽

Adjuvant Chemotherapy ◽

Traditional Chinese Medicine ◽

Early Breast Cancer ◽

Prospective Cohort Study ◽

Prospective Cohort ◽

Single Center

Abstract Background Chemotherapy after surgery for breast cancer plays a fundamental role in reducing the risk of distant and local recurrence. An increasing number of patients seek traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) during adjuvant chemotherapy to relieve symptom discomfort and side effects as well as to strengthen the body’s defenses. However, evidence on how concurrent TCM treatment affects prognosis is scarce. This trial aims to evaluate the association between TCM treatment and disease-free survival outcomes for patients with early breast cancer who are undergoing adjuvant chemotherapy. Methods/design This is a non-randomized, single center, prospective cohort study begun in November 2018 in Kaohsiung, Taiwan. A sample of 310 participants diagnosed with early breast cancer was recruited from the Breast Cancer Research Team and will be followed up every 3 to 6 months until October 2023. Detailed information of the participants, including general information, history of cancer, quality of life, side effects and safety of treatment, TCM body constitution, and meridian energy analysis, was collected face to face at baseline. Discussion This is the first prospective observational cohort study on TCM in patients with early breast cancer who are receiving adjuvant chemotherapy to evaluate the prognosis. Through this trial, we hope to assess the feasibility of a larger-scale clinical trial in the future and formulate an integrated TCM care program. Trial registration ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT03797248. Registered on 5 January 2019.

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