Quality of Life in Early Breast Cancer Patients: A Prospective Observational Study Using the FACT-B Questionnaire
L.A. Ursini, M. Nuzzo, Consuelo Rosa, F.C. Di Guglielmo, M. Di Tommaso, M. Trignani, Marzia Borgia, A. Allajbej, F. Patani, C. Di Carlo, Annamaria Porreca, Marta Di Nicola, Domenico Genovesi, L. Caravatta
Abstract
BACKGROUND/AIM: Quality of life (QoL) in early breast cancer (BC) treatment may be affected by acute and late toxicities. This study evaluated the impact of radiotherapy (RT) schedules, treatment-related toxicities, hormone therapy (HT) and age on QoL. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Ninety-five patients answered the FACT-B 4.0 questionnaire. Acute or late toxicities were recorded at each follow-up visit. RESULTS: The median trend of the QoL subscales was stable during all questionnaires. HT negatively impacted on Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy-General-Total, functional and emotional wellbeing. No difference was recorded between RT schedules and toxicity. No significant differences for age were detected in QoL. CONCLUSION: RT seems not to influence QoL of BC patients, in terms of fractionation regimen or RT-related side-effects. Moreover, women having systemic HT experienced a QoL worse than patients treated with RT only. Further and long-term protocols are needed to improve the validity of the tool.