Abstract
To evaluate the health-related quality-of-life (QOL) outcomes in surgical breast cancer survivors who received breast conservation therapy (BCT) compared to mastectomy, we utilized a systematic review to conduct observational studies of QOL in patients with breast cancer following breast conservation therapy from their inception until October 2021. The PubMed, the Cochrane Library, and the Web of Science databases were systematically searched to retrieve the observational studies. The pooled odds ratios (ORs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were applied as an effect estimate and calculated using Stata 15 software. Nine studies comprising 2301 patients were included. The results showed that no significant differences compared to mastectomy were detected for global health status (P=0.971 and P=0.613), physical function (P=0.099), emotional function (P=0.096), cognitive function (P=0.377), social function (P=0.602), sexual functioning (P=0.072), and sexual enjoyment (P=0.142), while role function (P=0.036), body image (P=0.000), and future perspective (P=0.012) showed a significant difference for BCT when compared to mastectomy. When compared to breast reconstruction (BR), the BCT group was inferior at physical function (P=0.002) and cognitive function (P=0.040) but superior at body image (P=0.001). When used the Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy (FACT) tool, BCT has better results in physical function (P=0.000), emotional function (P=0.000), and social function (P=0.000) than mastectomy. QOL outcomes after BCT were better than mastectomy in body image, future perspective, and role function. BCT may be an acceptable option in the study setting for breast cancer patients who pursue high QOL.
Highlights
Breast cancer is one of the most common cancers in the world and the second leading cause of cancer death in women after lung cancer. e number of women with breast cancer increased in China with the incidence of 41.82 per 100,000 people
breast conservation therapy (BCT) consisting of lumpectomy, with or without axillary surgery, underwent whole breast irradiation which is the standard treatment for early-stage breast cancer [3]. e main goal of local treatment is to remove the tumor, with tumor-free resection margins being crucial to avoid a local recurrence
Young Sun’s study is the major reason for significant heterogeneity; after removing this study, the results showed that no significant difference was recognized between BCTand mastectomy (M: P 0.971; breast reconstruction (BR): P 0.613) (Figure 1)
Summary
Breast cancer is one of the most common cancers in the world and the second leading cause of cancer death in women after lung cancer. e number of women with breast cancer increased in China with the incidence of 41.82 per 100,000 people. E number of women with breast cancer increased in China with the incidence of 41.82 per 100,000 people. E physiological function of the female breast is breast feeding, which plays an important role in a woman’s life; it represents a significant secondary sex characteristic and has cultural connections with womanhood and fertility. Erefore, emphasis on the importance of the QOL of patients following breast cancer surgery is essential. BCT consisting of lumpectomy, with or without axillary surgery, underwent whole breast irradiation which is the standard treatment for early-stage breast cancer [3]. As the breast cancer survivors’ number is growing, their QOL following breast cancer surgery is receiving increased attention and becomes the secondary goals for breast cancer treatment [4]. We compared the QOL after BCT or mastectomy in breast cancer by meta-
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