Daniela Doege1, Melissa S Y Thong2, Lena Koch-Gallenkamp3, Heike Bertram4, Andrea Eberle5, Bernd Holleczek6, Alice Nennecke7, Ron Pritzkuleit8, Annika Waldmann9, Sylke R Zeissig10,11, Hermann Brenner3,12,13, Volker Arndt2. 1. Unit of Cancer Survivorship, Division of Clinical Epidemiology and Aging Research, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), PO Box 101949, 69009, Heidelberg, Germany. d.doege@dkfz.de. 2. Unit of Cancer Survivorship, Division of Clinical Epidemiology and Aging Research, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), PO Box 101949, 69009, Heidelberg, Germany. 3. Division of Clinical Epidemiology and Aging Research, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany. 4. Cancer Registry of North Rhine-Westphalia, Bochum, Germany. 5. Bremen Cancer Registry, Leibniz Institute for Prevention Research and Epidemiology-BIPS, Bremen, Germany. 6. Saarland Cancer Registry, Saarbrücken, Germany. 7. Hamburg Cancer Registry, Hamburg, Germany. 8. Cancer Registry of Schleswig-Holstein, Lübeck, Germany. 9. Institute of Social Medicine and Epidemiology, University Lübeck, Lübeck, Germany. 10. Cancer Registry of Rhineland-Palatinate, Mainz, Germany. 11. Institute of Clinical Epidemiology and Biometry (ICE-B), Julius Maximilian University of Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany. 12. Division of Preventive Oncology, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany. 13. German Cancer Consortium (DKTK), German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany.
Abstract
PURPOSE: It is important to monitor disease-specific health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in breast cancer (BC) survivors to identify potential unmet supportive care needs. However, previous studies were characterized by small samples of mostly short-term survivors and were limited to certain age ranges, stages and/or treatments. METHODS: We used data from 3045 long-term BC survivors (5-15 years post-diagnosis) recruited in a German multi-regional population-based study. We assessed disease-specific HRQoL with the EORTC QLQ-BR23, scoring from 0 to 100. Differences in functioning and symptoms according to age at survey, self-reported treatments, stage, and disease status (disease-free vs. active disease) were assessed with multiple regression. Active disease was defined as any self-report of recurrence, metastasis or second primary cancer after the index cancer. RESULTS: Older BC survivors reported a higher body image and a better future perspective, but lower sexual functioning. Survivors aged 30-49 years who had breast-conserving therapy or mastectomy with breast reconstruction reported a better body image compared to those who had mastectomy only. We also found differences in symptoms according to treatments in some age groups. Stage at diagnosis was not associated with HRQoL overall and in most age subgroups. Disease-free BC survivors aged 30-79 years reported a better future perspective and less systemic therapy side effects than those with active disease. CONCLUSION: Several treatment-associated symptoms and functioning detriments were found 5-15 years after diagnosis. The results emphasize the need of a comprehensive, individualized survivorship care, recognizing differential needs of long-term BC survivors according to age, treatment modalities, and disease status.
PURPOSE: It is important to monitor disease-specific health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in breast cancer (BC) survivors to identify potential unmet supportive care needs. However, previous studies were characterized by small samples of mostly short-term survivors and were limited to certain age ranges, stages and/or treatments. METHODS: We used data from 3045 long-term BC survivors (5-15 years post-diagnosis) recruited in a German multi-regional population-based study. We assessed disease-specific HRQoL with the EORTC QLQ-BR23, scoring from 0 to 100. Differences in functioning and symptoms according to age at survey, self-reported treatments, stage, and disease status (disease-free vs. active disease) were assessed with multiple regression. Active disease was defined as any self-report of recurrence, metastasis or second primary cancer after the index cancer. RESULTS: Older BC survivors reported a higher body image and a better future perspective, but lower sexual functioning. Survivors aged 30-49 years who had breast-conserving therapy or mastectomy with breast reconstruction reported a better body image compared to those who had mastectomy only. We also found differences in symptoms according to treatments in some age groups. Stage at diagnosis was not associated with HRQoL overall and in most age subgroups. Disease-free BC survivors aged 30-79 years reported a better future perspective and less systemic therapy side effects than those with active disease. CONCLUSION: Several treatment-associated symptoms and functioning detriments were found 5-15 years after diagnosis. The results emphasize the need of a comprehensive, individualized survivorship care, recognizing differential needs of long-term BC survivors according to age, treatment modalities, and disease status.
Authors: Carly L Paterson; Cecile A Lengacher; Kristine A Donovan; Kevin E Kip; Cindy S Tofthagen Journal: Cancer Nurs Date: 2016 Jan-Feb Impact factor: 2.592
Authors: Nadine R Taghian; Cynthia L Miller; Lauren S Jammallo; Jean O'Toole; Melissa N Skolny Journal: Crit Rev Oncol Hematol Date: 2014-07-02 Impact factor: 6.312