Abstract P2-11-11: Patient Reported Outcomes after Breast Cancer Surgery and Adjuvant Therapy from a German Breast Cancer Centre

Abstract

Abstract Objectives: Evaluation of the subjectively experienced physical, psychological, social and job-related consequences of breast cancer. Methods: Standardized paper pencil interview of patients with the initial diagnosis of breast cancer who had their primary surgery between 01/2006 and 12/2010 at an accredited breast cancer centre followed by systemic adjuvant treatment. The data collection was conducted with the help of a self-developed scanner-readable questionnaire which had been evaluated in a pretest. Results: 1260 patients were contacted, 871 completed questionnaires (return rate 72%) were analyzed. Median age of the patients (99.5% women) at the time of the interview was 65 years (30–91). 6% relapsed during the observation period. 91% were “satisfied” or “very satisfied” with the surgical result. 67% indicated a complete freedom of pain. 23% received lymphatic drainage at the time of the questioning (11/2011), 33% complained about limitations of arm and/or shoulder function. 76% received anti-hormonal therapy, 13% stopped the anti-hormonal medication prematurely. Patients received a mean of 1.3 different anti-hormonal therapies, 54% took Tamoxifen. Psychological distress, cognitive limitations and physical consequences were rated on a scale from 1 – “not at all” to 4 – “very much”. The highest average values were found for the items sleep disturbances (2.3) and exhaustion (2.3), the lowest for depression (1.7) and word-finding difficulties (1.8). After therapy only 39% described a complete recovery of their physical capacity, 62% regained their previous mental capacity. 44% were in employment before their disease. 67% returned to their workplace but only 65% of them with their previous number of hours. 15% indicated disadvantages in their workplace due to the breast cancer disease. For 75% their partnership did not change, 12% experienced a deterioration, 13% an improvement. Before the illness 9% consulted a psychiatrist/psychotherapist, after the illness 18%. Before the diagnosis of breast cancer 13% received antipsychotic drugs, after the disease 25%. Conclusions: Breast cancer diagnosis and therapy leads to long lasting impairment of physical, psychological, social and job-related functioning in a significant number of patients. Citation Information: Cancer Res 2012;72(24 Suppl):Abstract nr P2-11-11.