Health-related quality of life in breast cancer patients: review of reviews from 2008 to 2018

Abstract

Background Breast cancer still is a topic. This overview of the literature aimed to update the current knowledge on quality of life in breast cancer patients. Methods A review of literature in MEDLINE, Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews and Google Scholar were carried out to identify review papers on health-related quality of life in breast cancer during the 2008 to 2018. All publications were screened using the PRISMA guideline. The methodological quality of reviews was assessed using the AMSTAR. The findings were summarized and tabulated accordingly. Results Within over a decade, a total of 974 review papers were identified which according to the study selection criteria finally we have evaluated 82 reviews. Of these about 85% had a reasonable methodological quality. The findings were mainly summarized on several headings including instruments used to measure quality of life, treatment, supportive care, psychological distress, and symptoms. Questionnaires had a good performance to quantify quality of life in breast cancer patients. Most reviews were focused on the impact of treatment including endocrine therapy as well as integrating complementary and alternative medicine into the current practice. According to the reviews, yoga was the most recommended exercise to improve quality of life in breast cancer patients. Conclusion Overall, the findings from this overview indicated that quality of life in breast cancer patients enhanced during the last decade. Several simple but effective interventions such as physical activity and psychosocial interventions proved to be effective in improving quality of life in this population. However, management of symptoms such as pain, and lymphedema, issues related to worry, sexual function especially for young patients, and the future outlooks all are among topics that deserve further consideration. Also, this overview indicated that methodological issues in measuring quality of life in breast cancer patients improved greatly, but still there is a long way to go to understand what really matter to patients.

Health Related Quality of Life and Its Determinants Among Breast Cancer Patients in Africa: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

“…All studies were used standardized data collection instrument and the most frequently used standard tool to measure the QOL in this review were EORTC QLQ-C30 and EORTC QLQ-BR23 which is similar to a review done in Spain [24]. But this nding was slightly different from the review of the review conducted [25] which stated that frequently used speci c QOL instrument in breast cancer patients were FACT-B and EORTC QOL-BR23.…”

The Impact of AC and AC-T Chemotherapy’s Toxicities on Quality of Life Among Women with Breast Cancer in Ethiopia: A Prospective Patient-Reported Outcomes Study

“…A holistic approach like combined diet, physical exercise, and psychosocial intervention during chemotherapy in patients with breast cancer led to positive changes in a range of psychological, physiological, and behavioral outcomes at the end of the intervention, 61 , 69 , 80 that ultimately improve the overall quality of life of women on breast cancer chemotherapy. 81 , 82 …”

Combıned-Complex Decongestıve Therapy Reduces Volume And Improves Quality Of Lıfe And Functıonal Status In Patıents Wıth Breast Cancer-Related Lymphedema

“…Lymphedema is one of the most common complications of breast cancer causing disruption of lymphatic vessels due to axillar node dissection and/or radiation therapy (34). CDT causes a reduction of edema by facilitating lymphatic circulation and de ned as the gold standard for treatment of this multifactorial morbidity (6)(7)(8)10). There is not a standard protocol for CDT.…”

“…MLD and compression bandaging in the intensive phase may be applied alone, together or combined with pressure pumps or compression garments. The intervals of different procedures can be changed from two times a week to everyday for four weeks (4)(5)(6)(7)(8)(9)(12)(13)(14)(15)(16)(17)(18)(19)(20)(21)(22)(23)(24)(25). The most effective combination of treatment elements and the optimal duration of the treatments are still undetermined in CDT (7,28).…”

“…These treatments range from simple exercises to different types of microsurgical techniques (7-9). A variety of physiotherapeutic interventions have been proposed for the control of symptoms and to minimize complication, by reducing upper limb swelling (6,7). Complete decongestive therapy (CDT) is the most popular and gold standard of treatment for patients with lymphedema and comprises two phases.…”