Journal Article

An assessment of quality of life for early phase after adjuvant radiotherapy in breast cancer survivors: a Korean multicenter survey (KROG 14–09)

Jong Hoon Lee, Juree Kim, Jinhee Kim, Sung Ja Ahn, Chai Hong Rim, Sun Young Ma, Su Ssan Kim, Yong Bae Kim, Suzy Kim, Dong Soo Lee, Bae Kwon Jeong, Mison Chun, Jaehyung Cha, Dae Sik Yang, Young-Joo Shin, Kyung Ran Park, Kyubo Kim, Moonkyoo Kong, Won Sup Yoon

2017

Overview

Backgrounds Quality of life (QoL) has become a major concern as the survival time of breast cancer increases. We investigated the changes in QoL through comprehensive categorical analysis, for the first three years after breast cancer treatment including radiotherapy. Methods A total of 1156 patients were enrolled from 17 institutions. All survivors were grouped according to a surveillance period of 9–15 months (first year), 21–27 months (second year), and 33–39 months (third year) from the end of radiotherapy. The 5-dimensional questionnaire by the EuroQol group (EQ-5D) and the EORTC Quality of Life Questionnaire; breast cancer specific module (QLQ-BR23) were checked by self-administrated method. Results First, second and third year groups comprised 51.0, 28.9, and 21.0%. In EQ-5D-3 L (3-Likert scale) analysis, pain/discomfort and anxiety/depression categories showed lower QoL. In multivariate analyses of EQ-5D-VAS (visual-analogue scale), categories of pain/discomfort and self-care were improved with time; axillary dissection was a significant clinical factor deteriorates pain/discomfort, self-care and usual activities. In QLQ-BR23 analysis, the lowest scored category was sexual activity, followed by sexual enjoyment, future perspective, and hair loss, and the best scored category was breast symptoms. In multivariate analyses, arm symptoms, breast symptoms and body image were improved with time. Conclusions Categories of pain/discomfort and self-care in EQ-5D-VAS, arm/breast symptoms and body image in QLQ-BR23 were improved, while categories of anxiety/depression and future perspective BR23 were not, suggesting necessity of psychosocial support. This research provides comprehensive information on the categorical aspects of QoL and changes during early follow-up after breast cancer treatment.

• Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media LLC,BioMed Central,Springer Nature B.V,BMC
• Subject: Adjuvant / psychology / Adult / Aged / Anxiety / Anxiety - psychology / Body Image / Body Image - psychology / Breast cancer / Breast neoplasm / Breast Neoplasms / Breast Neoplasms - psychology / Breast Neoplasms - therapy / Cancer therapies / Categories / Computer applications to medicine. Medical informatics / Depression / Depression - psychology / Discomfort / EORTC-QLQ-BR23 / EQ-5D / Female / Hair / Humans / Medical imaging / Medicine / Medicine & Public Health / Mental depression / Middle Aged / Multivariate analysis / Pain / Polls & surveys / Population / Quality of life / Quality of Life - psychology / Quality of Life Research / Questionnaires / R858-859.7 / Radiation therapy / Radiotherapy / Radiotherapy, Adjuvant / Radiotherapy, Adjuvant - psychology / Republic of Korea / Self Care / Self Care - psychology / Self image / Skin cancer / Socioeconomic factors / Studies / Surgery / Surveys and Questionnaires / Survival / Survivors / Survivors - psychology / Time Factors / Validity / Visual perception