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Quality of life in metastatic breast cancer patients under chemotherapy or supportive care: a single‐institution comparative study
Author(s) -
KARAMOUZIS M.V.,
IOANNIDIS G.,
RIGATOS G.
Publication year - 2007
Publication title -
european journal of cancer care
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.849
H-Index - 67
eISSN - 1365-2354
pISSN - 0961-5423
DOI - 10.1111/j.1365-2354.2006.00771.x
Subject(s) - medicine , quality of life (healthcare) , metastatic breast cancer , breast cancer , chemotherapy , randomized controlled trial , physical therapy , psychological intervention , cancer , prospective cohort study , oncology , nursing
The aim of the present study was to evaluate quality of life (QoL) parameters in patients with metastatic breast cancer (MBC) and assess the potential differences between patients receiving chemotherapy and those undergoing supportive care interventions. In total, 210 women with MBC were enrolled in this prospective, randomized, single‐institution study. The primary outcome of the trial was QoL assessment, using the self‐administered European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Questionnaire (EORTC QLQ‐C30, version 3) and Quality of Life Questionnaire Breast 23 (QLQ‐BR23) questionnaires. Quality of life was found to be statistically better ( P = 0.008) in MBC patients receiving chemotherapy than those under only supportive care. Statistically significant differences in favour of chemotherapy were also found in functioning subscales, symptom single‐item questions and sexual functioning. Our findings suggest that chemotherapy in MBC patients with good performance status is the more rational therapeutic approach in terms of QoL improvement.