J Breast Cancer.  2013 Jun;16(2):229-235. 10.4048/jbc.2013.16.2.229.

Does Chemotherapy Really Affect the Quality of Life of Women with Breast Cancer?

• Hwang SY
• Chang SJ
• Park BW

• KMID: 2286406
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.4048/jbc.2013.16.2.229

Abstract

PURPOSE
The aims of this cross-sectional study were to explore and evaluate the impact of adjuvant chemotherapy on quality of life in breast cancer patients according to the survival time from surgery.
METHODS
Completed questionnaires were collected from 534 women with breast cancer. Clinical and sociodemographic characteristics were reviewed and Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy-Breast cancer instrument, global quality of life, Beck Depression Inventory, and unmet sexuality needs were administered. Descriptive statistics, t-tests, chi-square tests and multiple analysis of covariance were performed while controlling for confounding variables.
RESULTS
Statistically significant differences were found between chemotherapy and no chemotherapy group on depression (p=0.026), unmet sexuality needs (p=0.010), breast cancer specific concerns (p=0.010), physical well-being (p=0.001), and emotional well-being (p=0.028). Chemotherapy effects also varied according to survival time since surgery such as for group 1 (<1 year since surgery), significant differences were found on Beck Depression Inventory (p=0.042), unmet sexuality needs (p=0.016), breast cancer subscale (p=0.004), and physical well-being (p=0.016) and for group 3 (>3 years since surgery) on depression (p=0.019) and physical well-being (p=0.028) respectively; however, there were no significant differences between chemotherapy and no chemotherapy group for group 2 (1-3 years since surgery).
CONCLUSION
As expected, breast cancer patients who underwent adjuvant chemotherapy experienced significantly worse quality of life than those who did not receive chemotherapy. Furthermore, the adverse chemotherapy effects on the quality of life appear to vary according to the time since surgery. These results suggest that health care professionals may need to address long-term as well as short-term chemotherapy side-effects and intervene accordingly to enhance quality of life of breast cancer patients.

Keyword

Adjuvant chemotherapy; Breast neoplasms; Quality of life; Survivors

MeSH Terms

Breast
Breast Neoplasms
Chemotherapy, Adjuvant
Cross-Sectional Studies
Delivery of Health Care
Depression
Female
Humans
Quality of Life
Sexuality
Survivors
Surveys and Questionnaires

Figure

• 

  Figure 1 Results of multiple analysis of covariance (MANCOVA) analysis in Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), sexuality needs, global quality of life (QOL), and Functional Assessment Cancer Therapy-Breast (FACT-B). MANCOVA was performed after controlling for variables including performance scale, TNM stage, hormone therapy, and time since surgery groups.BDI=Beck Depression Inventory; QOL=quality of life; BCS=breast cancer subscale; PWB=physical well-being; EWB=emotional well-being; FWB=functional well-being; SWB=social well-being.*Group A>Group B (p=0.026); †Group A>Group B (p=0.010); ‡Group A

• 

  Figure 2 Results of multiple analysis of covariance (MANCOVA) analysis according to time since surgery groups. MANCOVA for group 1 (A), group 2 (B), and group 3 (C) were performed after controlling for sociodemographic and clinical variables (education, menopausal status, performance scale, hormone therapy, TNM stage, and time since surgery [in months] for group 1; TNM stage for group 2; TNM stage and radiation therapy for group 3).BDI=Beck Depression Inventory; QOL=quality of life; BCS=breast cancer subscale; PWB=physical well-being; EWB=emotional well-being; FWB=functional well-being; SWB=social well-being.*Group A>Group B (p=0.042); †Group A>Group B (p=0.016); ‡Group AGroup B (p=0.019); ¶Group A

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