title: Quality of life measures for patients receiving adjuvant therapy for breast cancer: an international trial. The International Breast Cancer Study Group.
abstract: Serial quality of life (QL) assessments are being obtained every 3 months for 2 years from patients with operable breast cancer in two ongoing International Breast Cancer Study Group (IBCSG) randomised clinical trials of adjuvant treatment. The QL-assessments include patient-derived perceived coping (PACIS, personal adjustment to chronic illness scale), well-being (Bf-S, Befindlichkeitsskala von Zerssen), mood, physical well-being and appetite (LASA, linear analogue self assessments). The first assessment within 6 weeks of surgery was performed by 70% of the patients. The analysis of serial assessments for 265 patients with each of the first four assessments completed showed that all measures improved with increasing time from study entry; that the degrees of improvement for the four major language groups were similar; and that measures were sensitive to treatment difference. In conclusion, measurement of QL related aspects in a multicultural clinical trial is feasible and possibly relevant for the evaluation of treatment results.
authors.affiliation: Medical Division Lory, Inselspital, Bern, Switzerland.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Hürny
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Bernhard
authors.forename: R D
authors.initials: RD
authors.lastname: Gelber
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Coates
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Castiglione
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Isley
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Dreher
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Peterson
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Goldhirsch
authors.forename: H J
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Senn
mesh_terms: D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000523:psychology; D003431:Cross-Cultural Comparison; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008593:Menopause; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011788:Quality of Life; D013629:Tamoxifen / Q000627:therapeutic use; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D013629:Tamoxifen