Table 11 A list of studies of quality of life and common symptoms in breast cancer patients (1974–2007)
Author (s) [Ref.] | Year | Main focus | Results/conclusion(s) |
|---|---|---|---|
Hann et al. [254] | 1998 | Fatigue following radiotherapy | Women experienced fatigue but not worse than expected. |
Carpenter et al. [255] | 1998 | Hot flushes | 65% (n = 114) reported ht flushes, with 59% of women with hot flushes rating the symptom as severe; hot flushes were most severe in women with a higher body mass index, those who were younger at diagnosis, and those receiving tamoxifen. |
Hann et al. [256] | 1999 | Fatigue after high-dose therapy and autolougous stem cell rescue | Fatigue was related to medical and psychosocial factors. |
Velanovich and Szymanski [257] | 1999 | Lymphedema | Lymphedema occurred in a minority of patients and negatively affected QOL. |
Bower et al. [258] | 2000 | Fatigue, occurrence, and correlates | About one-third (n = 1957) reported more severe fatigue which was associate with higher level of depression, pain, and sleep difficulties. |
Kuehn [259] | 2000 | Surgery related symptoms following ALND | Shoulder-arm morbidity following ALND was found to be the most important long-term sources of distress. |
Stein et al. [260] | 2000 | Hot flushes | Hot flushes have a negative impact on QOL that may be due to fatigue and interference with sleep. |
Beaulac et al. [261] | 2002 | Lymphedema in survivors of early-stage breast cancer | MAS or BCS patients had similar lymphedema rates (28%–42/151) and had negative impact on long-term QOL in survivors. |
Kwan et al. [262] | 2002 | Arm morbidity after curative breast cancer treatment | Symptomatic patients and patients with lymphedema had impaired QOL compared to patients with no symptoms. |
Fortner et al. [263] | 2002 | Sleep difficulties | Most patients had significant sleep problems that frequently being disturbed by pain, nocturia, feeling too hot, and coughing or snoring loudly; patients having significant sleep problems had greater deficits in QOL. |
Engel et al. [264] | 2003 | Arm morbidity | Up to 5 years after diagnosis 38% (n = 990) were still experienced arm problems and for these patients QOL was significantly lower than patients without arm morbidity; extent of axilla, younger age, and operating clinic significantly contributed to arm morbidity. |
Caffo et al. [265] | 2003 | Pain after surgery | Pain distressed 40% of patients (n = 529) regardless of treatment type and had negative effect on patients' QOL. |
Rietman et al. [266] | 2004 | Impairments and disabilities (2.7 years after surgery) | Pain was the most frequent assessed impairment after breast cancer treatment with strong relationship to perceived disability and QOL. |
Schults et al. [267] | 2005 | Menopausal symptoms | Menopausal signs and symptoms may not be different or the breast cancer survivors and they should not be confused with the QOL/psychosocial issues of the cancer survivors. |
Ridner [268] | 2005 | Lymphedema | Survivors with lymphedema reported poorer QOL; a symptom cluster including limb sensation, loss of confidence in body, decreased physical activity, fatigue and psychological distress was identified. |
Conde et al. [269] | 2005 | Menopausal symptoms | Prevalence of menopausal symptoms was similar in women with and without breast cancer; sexual activity was less frequent in breast cancer patients. |
Burckhardt et al. [270] | 2005 | Pain | Widespread pain significantly caused more experience of pain severity, pain impact and lower physical health than regional pain. |
Mills et al. [271] | 2005 | Fatigue | Pre-chemotherapy and chemotherapy induced inflammation were related to fatigue and QOL. |
Massacesi [272] | 2006 | Effects of endocrine related symptoms in breast cancer who had switched from tamoxifen to anastrozole | Endocrine related symptoms improved but higher rate of mild arthritic and bone pain were reported. |
Land et al. [273] | 2006 | Tamoxifen or raloxifene related symptoms | No significant differences between groups; tamoxifen group reported better sexual function, more gynecological problems and vasomotor symptoms while raloxifene group reported more musculoskeletal problems and weight gain. |
Heidrich et al. [274] | 2006 | Symptoms, and symptom beliefs in older breast cancer patients vs. older women without breast cancer | Symptom experience and QOL of older breast cancer survivors were similar to those of older women with other chronic health problems. |
Gupta et al. [275] | 2006 | Menopausal symptoms | 96% reported vasomotor, 83% psychological and 90% somatic symptoms (n = 200) which negatively correlated not only their own but also with their partners' QOL. |
Byar et al. [276] | 2006 | Fatigue | Fatigue was associated with other physical and psychological symptoms and higher fatigue compromised QOL. |
Arndt et al. [277] | 2006 | Fatigue | Fatigue emerged as the strongest predictor of QOL. |
Pyszel et al. [278] | 2006 | Disability, and psychological distress in breast cancer survivors with and without lymphedema | Patients with arm lymphedema were more disabled, experienced a poorer QOL and had increased psychological distress in comparison to those without lymphedema. |
Dagnelie et al. [279] | 2007 | Fatigue | Of all QOL domains/subscales, fatigue is by far the predominant contributor to patient-perceived overall QOL in breast cancer patients preceding high-dose radiotherapy. |
Janz et al. [280] | 2007 | Relationship between symptoms and post-treatment QOL | Five most common symptoms were: systemic therapy side effects, fatigue, breast symptoms, sleep difficulties, and arm symptoms. Fatigue had the greatest impact on QOL. |