title: Health-related quality of life in women previously treated for early-stage breast cancer.
abstract: This study describes health-related quality of life (HRQOL) in women previously treated for early stage breast cancer relative to general population and breast cancer norms. It also identifies correlates and multivariate predictors of physical and mental HRQOL. 2582 women who were up to four years post-treatment for early stage breast cancer completed the RAND-36 Health Survey and reported personal and cancer-related information. Participants reported generally high HRQOL that was comparable to norms for women in the general population and other women with breast cancer. In multivariate analyses, better physical HRQOL was associated with fewer psychological symptoms, lower body mass index, better sleep quality, and more physical activity. Better mental HRQOL was associated with better sleep quality, fewer life events, less pain, and fewer gastrointestinal symptoms. Interventions targeting psychosocial symptoms, weight reduction, physical activity, sleep hygiene, and pain could result in improved HRQOL in these women.
authors.affiliation: University of California, San Diego, Comprehensive Cancer Center, La Jolla 92093-0645, USA.
authors.forename: Wayne A
authors.initials: WA
authors.lastname: Bardwell
authors.forename: Jacqueline M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Major
authors.forename: Cheryl L
authors.initials: CL
authors.lastname: Rock
authors.forename: Vicky A
authors.initials: VA
authors.lastname: Newman
authors.forename: Cynthia A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Thomson
authors.forename: Janice A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Chilton
authors.forename: Joel E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Dimsdale
authors.forename: John P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Pierce
mesh_terms: D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000523:psychology*; D003710:Demography; D005260:Female; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D011788:Quality of Life; D012890:Sleep; D012944:Social Support; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013997:Time Factors; D016387:Women's Health