Prediction of quality of life in early breast cancer upon completion of adjuvant chemotherapy

Abstract

Quality of life (QoL) is a complex, ordinal endpoint with multiple conditioning factors. A predictive model of QoL after adjuvant chemotherapy can support decision making or the communication of information about the range of treatment options available. Patients with localized breast cancer (n = 219) were prospectively recruited at 17 centers. Participants completed the EORTC QLQ-C30 questionnaire. The primary aim was to predict health status upon completion of adjuvant chemotherapy adjusted for multiple covariates. We developed a Bayesian model with six covariates (chemotherapy regimen, TNM stage, axillary lymph node dissection, perceived risk of recurrence, age, type of surgery, and baseline EORTC scores). This model allows both prediction and causal inference. The patients with mastectomy reported a discrete decline on all QoL scores. The effect of surgery depended on the interaction with age. Women with ages on either end of the range displayed worse scores, especially with mastectomy. The perceived risk of recurrence had a striking effect on health status. In conclusion, we have developed a predictive model of health status in patients with early breast cancer based on the individual’s profile.

Evaluation of the quality of life of cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy

“…Um estudo sobre qualidade de vida em mulheres com câncer de mama em quimioterapia adjuvante descreveu que as pacientes que realizaram a cirurgia de mastectomia relataram um declínio discreto em todos os escores de qualidade de vida. Esse efeito da cirurgia teve relação com as idades, sendo que mulheres com idades nas extremidades apresentaram piores pontuações, especialmente com mastectomia (17) .…”

Assessment of psychological distress, coping, and spirituality in patients with resected, non-metastatic vs unresectable advanced cancer. Data from the NEOcoping and NEOetic_SEOM studies

“…On the other hand, patients with resected, non-metastatic cancer suffered psychological worsening after completion of adjuvant treatment. This is possibly associated with treatment toxicity, of both chemotherapy and radiotherapy, as well as the sequelae of surgery, which tend to affect breast cancer patients, in whom changes in physical appearance interfere with social and work relations, triggering a decline in their psychological state [28] [29]. In addition, once adjuvant treatment has been completed, this group of patients is regarded as a cured with less follow-up, which may be accompanied by greater fear of disease recurrence that can impact on their psychological state.…”

Assessing the Quality of Life in Breast Cancer Women: A Cross Sectional Descriptive Study

“…There is limited information about QOL in Iraqi females with breast cancer, the limited obtained data cause difficulties for clinicians to introduce new interventions and treatment approaches (Daher et al, 2017). In breast cancer females, QOL has many effects that intertwine with interdependent and complex interactions, such as age, disease stage, socioeconomic status, type of surgery, body image, psychological factors and fear of disease coming back (Carmona-Bayonas et al, 2021). The present study aims at assessing the QOL in breast cancer women with regard to different Sociodemographic and medical variables.…”