BACKGROUND: Two thirds of female breast cancer patients and more than 80 % of malignant melanoma patients are diagnosed with localised disease and good prognosis with a 5-year relative survival of more than 90 % in Germany. PURPOSE: This study was conducted to present quality of life (QoL) data from a German population-based cohort of female breast cancer and melanoma patients without recurrence for approximately 2 years after initial diagnosis. METHODS: In 2003-2004, patients with localised breast cancer and melanoma were recruited from the Munich Cancer Registry (Upper Bavaria, Germany) to answer QoL questionnaires. Differences between breast cancer and melanoma patients were investigated with regard to age and aspects of communication with their medical caregivers. RESULTS: One thousand three hundred and four breast cancer and 348 melanoma patients were included. Breast cancer patients were about 7 years older and had significantly lower QoL and higher symptom scores than melanoma patients. Communication needs were generally similar in both groups; however, breast cancer patients experienced more empathy from their medical caregivers. In breast cancer patients, communication was an independent factor for all QoL functioning scores. CONCLUSIONS: Even when faced with a similarly good prognosis, breast cancer patients have a worse QoL than melanoma patients 2 years after diagnosis. An explanation may be more distinctive surgery and systemic therapy, older patients with comorbidities and misunderstood risk communication in breast cancer patients that may stoke anxiety and fears. Further reasons could be unceasing public discussion about breast cancer and its instrumentalisation for political purposes.
BACKGROUND: Two thirds of female breast cancerpatients and more than 80 % of malignant melanomapatients are diagnosed with localised disease and good prognosis with a 5-year relative survival of more than 90 % in Germany. PURPOSE: This study was conducted to present quality of life (QoL) data from a German population-based cohort of female breast cancer and melanomapatients without recurrence for approximately 2 years after initial diagnosis. METHODS: In 2003-2004, patients with localised breast cancer and melanoma were recruited from the Munich Cancer Registry (Upper Bavaria, Germany) to answer QoL questionnaires. Differences between breast cancer and melanomapatients were investigated with regard to age and aspects of communication with their medical caregivers. RESULTS: One thousand three hundred and four breast cancer and 348 melanomapatients were included. Breast cancerpatients were about 7 years older and had significantly lower QoL and higher symptom scores than melanomapatients. Communication needs were generally similar in both groups; however, breast cancerpatients experienced more empathy from their medical caregivers. In breast cancerpatients, communication was an independent factor for all QoL functioning scores. CONCLUSIONS: Even when faced with a similarly good prognosis, breast cancerpatients have a worse QoL than melanomapatients 2 years after diagnosis. An explanation may be more distinctive surgery and systemic therapy, older patients with comorbidities and misunderstood risk communication in breast cancerpatients that may stoke anxiety and fears. Further reasons could be unceasing public discussion about breast cancer and its instrumentalisation for political purposes.
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Authors: Markus V Heppt; Timo Siepmann; Jutta Engel; Gabriele Schubert-Fritschle; Renate Eckel; Laura Mirlach; Thomas Kirchner; Andreas Jung; Anja Gesierich; Thomas Ruzicka; Michael J Flaig; Carola Berking Journal: BMC Cancer Date: 2017-08-10 Impact factor: 4.430
Authors: Jessica Ranieri; Dina Di Giacomo; Federica Guerra; Eleonora Cilli; Alessandra Martelli; Valeria Ciciarelli; Alessandra Ventura; Maria Concetta Fargnoli Journal: Int J Environ Res Public Health Date: 2022-07-28 Impact factor: 4.614