Multiple Predictors of Health-Related Quality of Life in Early Stage Breast Cancer. Data from a Year Follow-up Study Compared with the General Population

Abstract

Prospective longitudinal health-related quality of life (QOL) data from 161 women newly diagnosed with breast cancer were compared to age-adjusted mean QOL scores from a general female population (n=949). In addition, multiple factors (demographic, personality trait, participation in treatment decision-making, information satisfaction, and medical data), which previous research has indicated affect the QOL of breast cancer patients, were simultaneously investigated in a multivariate model, in order to determine which of these variables have the strongest influence on QOL one year after surgery. QOL was evaluated with the EORTC QLQ-C30 at time of diagnosis, three- and 12-months postoperatively. Women with breast cancer scored significantly lower on emotional, cognitive, and social functioning (p < 0.01) at time of diagnosis compared to the general female population, and continued to score lower on cognitive (p=0.008) and social (p=0.009) functioning one-year after surgery. In addition to the initial QOL, breast conservation surgery was predictive of better physical functioning (p=0.01) and body image (p < 0.0001), while chemotherapy was predictive for poorer role functioning (p=0.01) one year after surgery. Dispositional optimism was predictive for better emotional (p=0.003) and social functioning (p=0.01) one year after surgery. At time of diagnosis and throughout the post-diagnosis period, dispositional optimism was associated with better QOL and fewer symptoms.

Quality of Life among Breast Cancer Patients Undergoing Treatment in National Cancer Centers in Nepal

“…The result is consistent with the study done in Norway (Schou et al, 2005), India (Pandey et al, 2005) and Lithuania (Bulotiene et al, 2007). In Nepalese society, the role of men and women has been traditionally and culturally determined.…”

Does rapid genetic counseling and testing in newly diagnosed breast cancer patients cause additional psychosocial distress? results from a randomized clinical trial

“…Such heightened levels of distress and compromised HRQL have also been described in breast cancer patients without a high-risk profile. [16][17][18] Unfortunately, we did not have data available for breast cancer patients without a high-risk profile for comparison of distress levels. Contrary to our original expectations, at follow-up, women in the RGCT group did not report significantly lower levels of cancer worries or cancer-related distress or more problems with body image or sexuality than the UC group.…”

Associations of Self-rated Health and Socioeconomic Status with Information Seeking and Avoiding Behavior among Post-Treatment Cancer Patients

“…It can also alleviate the uncertainty and anxiety felt by patients due to the treatment (Stark and House, 2000), and let them expect a better prognosis. In fact, patients equipped with information experience fewer side effects and show better social and cognitive functioning (Schou et al, 2005). Additionally, many studies have found that HISBs are related to the patients' cancer screening, reducing unhealthy behaviors, and treatment compliance (Czaja et al, 2003;Shi et al, 2004;Rutten et al, 2005;.…”