Fatigue, menopausal symptoms, and cognitive function in women after adjuvant chemotherapy for breast cancer: 1- and 2-year follow-up of a prospective controlled study.
OBJECTIVE
We previously evaluated fatigue, menopausal symptoms, and cognitive dysfunction in patients receiving adjuvant therapy for breast cancer and matched healthy women. Here we report assessment of these women 1 and 2 years later.


METHODS
Patients without relapse and controls were evaluated by the Functional Assessment of Cancer Treatment-General Quality of Life questionnaire, with subscales for fatigue and endocrine symptoms, and by the High Sensitivity Cognitive Screen.


RESULTS
There were 104, 91, and 83 patients and 102, 81, and 81 controls assessed at baseline and at 1 and 2 years, respectively. Median Functional Assessment of Cancer Treatment-Fatigue scores (range, 0 to 52) for patients improved from 31 (on chemotherapy) to 43 and 45 at 1 and 2 years, respectively, but were stable in controls (46 to 48). Median Functional Assessment of Cancer Treatment-Endocrine Symptoms scores (range, 0 to 72) for patients improved from 57 (on chemotherapy) to 59 and 61 at 1 and 2 years, respectively, and were stable in controls (64 to 65). Differences between patients and controls remained significant for these scales. The incidence of moderate-severe cognitive dysfunction by the High Sensitivity Cognitive Screen decreased in patients from 16% (on chemotherapy) to 4.4% and 3.8% and in controls from 5% to 3.6% and 0% at 1 and 2 years, respectively. There were minimal differences between estrogen receptor-positive patients who started hormonal therapy (mainly tamoxifen) after chemotherapy and estrogen receptor-negative patients who did not. Differences in quality of life between patients and controls were significant only at baseline.


CONCLUSIONS
Fatigue, menopausal symptoms, and cognitive dysfunction are important adverse effects of chemotherapy that improve in most patients. Hormonal treatment has minimal impact on them.
Fan
Helen G Mar
HG
Princess Margaret Hospital and University of Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
Houédé-Tchen
Nadine
N
Yi
Qi-Long
QL
Chemerynsky
Irene
I
Downie
Fiona P
FP
Sabate
Kathryn
K
Tannock
Ian F
IF
D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000009:adverse effects*; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000523:psychology; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D017024:Chemotherapy, Adjuvant; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000139:chemically induced*; D005221:Fatigue / Q000139:chemically induced*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008593:Menopause / Q000187:drug effects*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011788:Quality of Life; D012307:Risk Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires