Factors Associated with Poor Quality of Life in Breast Cancer Survivors: A 3-Year Follow-Up Study

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to identify subgroups of quality of life (QOL) changes in breast cancer survivors (BCSs), and to determine factors associated with subgroups of consistently low or deteriorated QOL. We enrolled 101 women recently diagnosed with breast cancer in South Korea and asked them to complete a questionnaire at baseline (within 1 month of diagnosis), 1 year later (Year 1), 2 years later (Year 2), and 3 years later (Year 3). We assessed QOL using the global QOL subscale from the EORTC QLQ-C30. We defined low QOL as a global QOL score 10 points below the mean score of the general population. Based on low QOL as defined in this study, we identified subgroups of QOL changes over 3 years. We identified four subgroups of QOL changes: improved (47.4%), stable (30%), continuously low (8.8%), and deteriorated (13.8%), and considered the last two categories (22.6%) poor QOL. Logistic regression analyses demonstrated that significant determinants of poor QOL were insomnia at Year 1, fatigue and anxiety at Year 2, and fatigue, depression, and comorbidity at Year 3. In conclusion, persistent symptoms of insomnia, fatigue, anxiety, depression, and comorbidity are potential risk factors for poor QOL in BCSs.

Cancer Survivorship Care in the United States at Facilities Accredited by the Commission on Cancer

“…Most of these individuals are survivors of adult-onset cancer, and most will remain in remission and experience years of additional life . Unfortunately, survivors of adult-onset cancer may develop a variety of clinically significant late effects of treatment causing premature mortality, chronic illness, and lower quality of life . Comprehensive survivorship care can facilitate the early recognition, optimal management, and secondary prevention of many late effects, as well as delivery of health information and psychosocial support .…”

“… 5 Unfortunately, survivors of adult-onset cancer may develop a variety of clinically significant late effects of treatment causing premature mortality, chronic illness, and lower quality of life. 6 , 7 , 8 , 9 , 10 , 11 , 12 Comprehensive survivorship care can facilitate the early recognition, optimal management, and secondary prevention of many late effects, as well as delivery of health information and psychosocial support. 13 For these reasons, the National Comprehensive Cancer Network and American Society of Clinical Oncology recommend routine provision of survivorship care after treatment of adult-onset cancer.…”