Quality of life following bone marrow transplantation for breast cancer: a comparative study

Abstract

Summary:outcome. 7 QOL is a multidimensional phenomenon consisting of physical, psychological, and social dimensions, 7 following BMT, an individual's QOL may be affected by As more women are treated with bone marrow transplantation (BMT) for breast cancer, there is growing difficulties in any or all of these areas. QOL following BMT has been examined in several surinterest in quality of life (QOL) following treatment. Although there have been some clinical studies of QOL vey studies. 7,8 However, in some of these studies, QOL was assessed using methods of questionable reliability and valfollowing BMT, this area has received little systematic attention. In particular, it is unclear how QOL for idity, such as open-ended questionnaires, 9 patient interviews, 10 or non-validated QOL instruments developed by women treated with BMT for breast cancer differs from that which might be expected for 'healthy' women of the study authors. 11 In this introduction, only studies which employed standard, validated questionnaires to assess QOL about the same age. To address this issue, we compared QOL reported by women treated with autologous BMT following BMT are briefly reviewed. In a study conducted by Andrykowski and colleagues, 1 for breast cancer with that of a group of women of similar age with no history of cancer. In addition, we exam-QOL was assessed in individuals who were an average of 26 months post-BMT using the Functional Living Indexined the relationship of demographic factors, medical factors, and self-reported symptom prevalence, severity, Cancer (FLIC). 12 Based on mean FLIC scores, the QOL of the BMT survivors was similar to that of a normative samand distress to QOL in post-BMT patients. All participants completed the SF-36 Health Survey developed ple of cancer patients in active chemotherapy treatment. Poorer QOL in BMT survivors was associated with being from the Medical Outcomes Study (SF-36). Post-BMT patients also completed the ECOG Performance Status older (ie above age 30) at the time of BMT. The QOL of 135 individuals who were an average of 47 Rating Scale (PSR) and the Memorial Symptom Assessment Scale (MSAS). Results indicated that, compared months post-BMT was assessed by Baker and colleagues 3 using a measure of life satisfaction (Satisfaction with Life to the women with no cancer history, post-BMT patients reported significantly impaired physical functioning, Domains Scale; SLDS) 13 and a measure of emotional wellbeing (Profile of Mood States; POMS). 14 Based on physical role functioning, general health, vitality, social functioning, and emotional role functioning. Impaired responses to the SLDS, the authors indicated that the BMT survivors reported an 'above average level of satisfaction' QOL following BMT was significantly associated with lower income, a longer time to engraftment, longer hoswith most areas of life but reported some dissatisfaction with physical strength and sexual relations. In addition, the pital stay, poor performance status, and greater symptom prevalence, severity, and d...

Fatigue and quality of life in breast cancer survivors: a comparative study

“…In accordance with these findings, it appears that the impact of fatigue on quality of life does not differ for survivors and women with no cancer history. These findings are also consistent with research reporting that fatigue severity correlates with poorer quality of life in breast cancer survivors 7,11,12,16,23,37 and in healthy women 23 .…”

“…These findings diverge somewhat from other reports in the literature indicating no differences in fatigue for survivors of breast cancer compared with controls 23,24 .…”

“…healthy women, women without a history of cancer and/or with a benign breast disease). Contrary to these studies, no differences in fatigue were observed in post-treatment breast cancer women compared with controls 23,24 .…”

“…Researchers have reported that breast cancer survivors displayed poorer quality of life than control groups 15,21,[25][26][27] , whereas other authors have not 23,24,26,28,29 .…”

Psychosocial adjustment and quality of life among multiple myeloma patients undergoing evaluation for autologous stem cell transplantation

“…The current study highlights the considerable emotional and physical symptom burden that multiple myeloma patients confront early in the course of care. These results are notable because these problems remain largely underdiagnosed, 41,55,56 and most would be expected to be exacerbated rather than diminished with the beginning of aggressive high-dose therapy and transplant regimens. 27,28,33 The prevalence rates found in the present investigation are even higher than those that emerged in our earlier pilot study of myeloma patients at a similar point in treatment; 24 taken together, these studies demonstrate that early psychosocial screening is feasible in a busy treatment center and that supportive care needs are extensive.…”