Quality of life of breast cancer survivors following breast-conserving therapy versus mastectomy: a multicenter study in Taiwan

237 Background: Breast cancer (BC) is the most common cancer among women in the U.S. Public awareness and advances in BC screening have resulted in more women being diagnosed with early stage BC and treated with breast-conserving therapy (BCT) (lumpectomy followed by radiation therapy). Depending on prognostic factors and recurrence risk, systemic chemotherapy may be prescribed. Purpose of this study was to examine the impact of chemotherapy on quality of life (QOL) and needs of BC survivors treated with BCT for early stage BC. Methods: A list of 750 breast cancer survivors, aged 18 or older and who completed breast-conservation therapy for stages 0-II from 2001 - 2010, was obtained from a hospital’s tumor registry. Consent form and questionnaires, including a demographic questionnaire, City of Hope’s quality of life survey, and an investigator-developed questionnaire to assess for needs of cancer survivors, were mailed. T-test was used to compare mean subscales and overall QOL scores between those who received chemotherapy and those who did not. Frequencies and percentages were used to summarize the needs of BC survivors. Results: 119 completed surveys were received. Majority of respondents were Asians (56.3%), Caucasians (21.8%) and mixed ethnicity (13.4%). 55 patients received BCT plus systemic chemotherapy and 64 received BCT alone. Those who received systemic chemotherapy scored significantly lower on psychological subscale (p< 0.01), social subscale (p= 0.04), and overall QOL (p= 0.03) compared to survivors treated with BCT alone. Regarding needs, BC survivors want to learn about nutrition (40.3%), pain management (39.5%), improving memory (37.8%), and physical activity (33.6%). Conclusions: Although chemotherapy may decrease the risk of recurrence for early stage BC, lasting effects of treatment can negatively impact QOL. Understanding the impact of chemotherapy on various domains of QOL can be beneficial to patients and healthcare providers when discussing the risks and benefits of adjuvant systemic therapy. Further interventions are needed to improve QOL and address the needs among BC survivors treated with breast-conserving therapy.

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Comparison of quality of life, satisfaction with surgery and shoulder-arm morbidity in breast cancer survivors submitted to breast-conserving therapy or mastectomy followed by immediate breast reconstruction

Clinics ◽

10.1590/s1807-59322010000800007 ◽

2010 ◽

Vol 65 (8) ◽

pp. 781-787 ◽

Cited By ~ 31

Author(s):

Renata Freitas-Silva ◽

Délio Marques Conde ◽

Ruffo de Freitas-Júnior ◽

Edson Zangiacomi Martinez

Keyword(s):

Breast Cancer ◽

Quality Of Life ◽

Life Satisfaction ◽

Breast Reconstruction ◽

Cancer Survivors ◽

Breast Cancer Survivors ◽

Breast Conserving Therapy ◽

Immediate Breast Reconstruction ◽

Arm Morbidity

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Health-Related Quality of Life in Long Term Breast Cancer Survivors Treated with Breast Conserving Therapy: Impact of Age at Therapy

Breast Cancer Research and Treatment ◽

10.1007/s10549-005-2420-2 ◽

2005 ◽

Vol 92 (3) ◽

pp. 217-222 ◽

Cited By ~ 43

Author(s):

Fabian Fehlauer ◽

Silke Tribius ◽

Anja Mehnert ◽

Dirk Rades

Keyword(s):

Breast Cancer ◽

Quality Of Life ◽

Cancer Survivors ◽

Breast Cancer Survivors ◽

Breast Conserving Therapy ◽

Health Related Quality ◽

Related Quality ◽

Health Related

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Quality of life among breast cancer survivors treated with breast-conserving therapy in Hawaii.

Journal of Clinical Oncology ◽

10.1200/jco.2013.31.31_suppl.154 ◽

2013 ◽

Vol 31 (31_suppl) ◽

pp. 154-154

Author(s):

Francisco A. Conde ◽

Andrea R. Wilburn

Keyword(s):

Breast Cancer ◽

Quality Of Life ◽

Side Effects ◽

Cancer Survivors ◽

Breast Cancer Survivors ◽

Well Being ◽

Breast Conserving Therapy ◽

Long Term Survivors

154 Background: Aim of this study was to compare quality of life (QOL), treatment-related side effects, and needs of recent and long-term breast cancer survivors following breast-conserving therapy. Methods: Surveys were sent to 750 women with Tis, T1 – T4 breast tumors without lymph node involvement who received lumpectomy followed by radiotherapy at a large, tertiary care facility in Hawai‘i from January 2001 to December 2010. To assure adequate representation across years, 75 women were randomly selected from each year. Surveys included demographic items, City of Hope Quality of Life – Breast Cancer Instrument, and Breast Cancer Prevention Trial Symptom Scales. Completed surveys were received from 265 (35.3%) women, and findings were analyzed for long-term survivors (diagnosed from 2001-2003, n=76), mid-range survivors (diagnosed from 2004-2007, n=95), and recent survivors (diagnosed from 2008-2010, n=94). Results: Overall, respondents reported high QOL. Similarly to recent breast cancer survivors, long-term survivors reported slight to moderate side effects, including hot flashes, vaginal problems, musculoskeletal pain, and cognitive dysfunction. After controlling for age, ethnicity, and cancer stage, there was no significant differences in QOL physical, psychological, and social well-being subscale scores across time periods. Long-term survivors were more likely than shorter-term survivors to want information regarding nutrition (p<.01), physical activity (p=.018), and ways to restore strength, mobility, and cognition (p<.01). Conclusions: Breast cancer survivors treated with breast conserving therapy report relatively good QOL between 2 and 12 years post-treatment, although they continued to experience physiological issues (which could be exacerbated by age), and anxieties about their cancer. Healthcare professionals should continually assess for ongoing cancer-related side effects even years after completing treatment. Funding: This research was supported by ‘Imi Hale Native Hawaian Cancer Network (U54 CA153459).

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