Physical and psychosocial outcomes of midlife and older women following surgery and adjuvant therapy for breast cancer.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the patterns of functioning and psychosocial adjustment of midlife and older women following surgery for breast cancer. Differences between those who received follow-up adjuvant therapy and those who did not also were compared.


METHODS
2 x 3 mixed design with one between-groups factor (type of treatment) and one within-subjects factor (time).


METHODS
Four midwestern hospitals.


METHODS
46 patients with breast cancer who are age 55 or older.


METHODS
Baseline data about presurgical functional status and other variables were obtained during the first week after surgery. Follow-up data were obtained at six weeks, three months, and six months postsurgery. Data were collected via telephone interviews and mailed questionnaires.


METHODS
Functional status, patient symptomatology, quality of life (QOL), demands of illness, and type of treatment (surgery only versus surgery plus adjuvant therapy).


RESULTS
No differences existed between the two treatment groups at baseline, with the exception of lower functional status reported by the surgery-only group. In the surgery-only group, functional status improved significantly from six weeks to three months postsurgery. The most frequently reported symptoms of both groups included fatigue and pain.


CONCLUSIONS
These results suggest that both groups did equally well, regardless of whether they received adjuvant therapy (radiation or chemotherapy). Neither QOL nor demands of illness differed between the two groups, nor did these scores change significantly over time following surgery.


CONCLUSIONS
These findings suggest that women undergoing surgery for breast cancer, whether they receive adjuvant therapy or not, may have functional and psychosocial needs that could be effectively addressed by nursing interventions pre- and postsurgery.
Wyatt
G K
GK
Michigan State University College of Nursing, East Lansing, USA.
Friedman
L L
LL
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000375:Aging; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000523:psychology* / Q000532:radiotherapy / Q000601:surgery; D017024:Chemotherapy, Adjuvant; D015986:Confounding Factors, Epidemiologic; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D009859:Oncology Nursing; D011788:Quality of Life; D018714:Radiotherapy, Adjuvant; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D014481:United States