Jennifer L Marino1, Christobel M Saunders, Laura I Emery, Helena Green, Dorota A Doherty, Martha Hickey. 1. 1Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, The University of Melbourne, Royal Women's Hospital, Parkville, Victoria, Australia 2School of Surgery, The University of Western Australia, Crawley, Western Australia 3Menopause Symptoms after Cancer Clinic, King Edward Memorial Hospital, Subiaco, Western Australia 4School of Women's and Infants' Health, The University of Western Australia, Crawley, Western Australia, Australia.
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: The aim of the study was to determine the association between adjuvant chemotherapy for breast cancer and menopausal symptoms, sexual function, and quality of life. METHODS: Participants attended a menopause clinic with a dedicated service for cancer survivors at a large tertiary women's hospital. Information about breast cancer treatments including adjuvant chemotherapy was collected from medical records. Menopausal symptoms were recorded with the Greene Climacteric Scale and Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy, Breast Cancer, and Endocrine Symptom Subscales. Sexual symptoms were recorded using Fallowfield's Sexual Activity Questionnaire. Quality of life was measured with Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy scales. RESULTS: The severity of vasomotor, psychological, or sexual symptoms (apart from pain) did not differ between those who had received adjuvant chemotherapy (n = 339) and other breast cancer survivors (n = 465). After adjustment for current age, time since menopause, and current use of antiestrogen endocrine therapy, the risk of "severe pain" with sexual intercourse was twice as common after chemotherapy (31.6% vs 20.0%, odds ratio [OR] 2.18, 95% CI 1.25-3.79). Those treated with chemotherapy were more likely to report "severe problems" with physical well-being (OR 1.92, 95% CI 1.12-3.28) and lower breast cancer-specific quality of life (OR 1.89 95% CI 1.13-3.18), but did not differ in other quality of life measures. CONCLUSIONS: In this large study of breast cancer patients presenting to a specialty menopause clinic, previous chemotherapy was not associated with current vasomotor or psychological symptoms. Severe pain with intercourse was significantly more common in those treated with adjuvant chemotherapy.
OBJECTIVE: The aim of the study was to determine the association between adjuvant chemotherapy for breast cancer and menopausal symptoms, sexual function, and quality of life. METHODS:Participants attended a menopause clinic with a dedicated service for cancer survivors at a large tertiary women's hospital. Information about breast cancer treatments including adjuvant chemotherapy was collected from medical records. Menopausal symptoms were recorded with the Greene Climacteric Scale and Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy, Breast Cancer, and Endocrine Symptom Subscales. Sexual symptoms were recorded using Fallowfield's Sexual Activity Questionnaire. Quality of life was measured with Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy scales. RESULTS: The severity of vasomotor, psychological, or sexual symptoms (apart from pain) did not differ between those who had received adjuvant chemotherapy (n = 339) and other breast cancer survivors (n = 465). After adjustment for current age, time since menopause, and current use of antiestrogen endocrine therapy, the risk of "severe pain" with sexual intercourse was twice as common after chemotherapy (31.6% vs 20.0%, odds ratio [OR] 2.18, 95% CI 1.25-3.79). Those treated with chemotherapy were more likely to report "severe problems" with physical well-being (OR 1.92, 95% CI 1.12-3.28) and lower breast cancer-specific quality of life (OR 1.89 95% CI 1.13-3.18), but did not differ in other quality of life measures. CONCLUSIONS: In this large study of breast cancerpatients presenting to a specialty menopause clinic, previous chemotherapy was not associated with current vasomotor or psychological symptoms. Severe pain with intercourse was significantly more common in those treated with adjuvant chemotherapy.
Authors: Karen Roberts; Travis Chong; Emma Hollands; Jason Tan; Ganendra Raj Kader Ali Mohan; Paul A Cohen Journal: Support Care Cancer Date: 2019-05-18 Impact factor: 3.603
Authors: Kimberly Alexander; Yvette P Conley; Jon D Levine; Bruce A Cooper; Steven M Paul; Judy Mastick; Claudia West; Christine Miaskowski Journal: J Pain Symptom Manage Date: 2017-09-23 Impact factor: 3.612
Authors: Ana Isabel Cobo-Cuenca; Noelia María Martín-Espinosa; María Aurora Rodríguez-Borrego; Juan Manuel Carmona-Torres Journal: Qual Life Res Date: 2018-10-15 Impact factor: 4.147
Authors: Winnie Yeo; Elizabeth Pang; Giok S Liem; Joyce J S Suen; Rita Y W Ng; Christopher C H Yip; Leung Li; Claudia H W Yip; Frankie K F Mo Journal: Health Qual Life Outcomes Date: 2020-02-10 Impact factor: 3.186