Managing patients on endocrine therapy: focus on quality-of-life issues.
OBJECTIVE
To review the health-related quality of life (QOL) of women treated with adjuvant hormonal therapy.


METHODS
To review the limited QOL data from randomized trials of tamoxifen versus placebo and ovarian ablation versus none. To discuss QOL results from randomized trials of aromatase inhibitors compared with tamoxifen or placebo for adjuvant therapy of postmenopausal women with estrogen receptor-positive and/or progesterone receptor-positive breast cancer.


RESULTS
QOL is generally good in up to 3 years of follow-up with either tamoxifen or aromatase inhibitors. Vasomotor and sexual complaints remain problematic, however, in only a small proportion of women. There are fewer data regarding the QOL effects of ovarian ablation, which may nonetheless be more substantial.


CONCLUSIONS
Tamoxifen and aromatase inhibitors cause specific vasomotor or gynecologic symptoms, which may affect sexual function. However, clinical benefits of these agents are generally achieved without major detrimental effect on overall QOL.
Whelan
Timothy J
TJ
McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada.
Pritchard
Kathleen I
KI
D018931:Antineoplastic Agents, Hormonal / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D047072:Aromatase Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy*; D017024:Chemotherapy, Adjuvant; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D010053:Ovary / Q000187:drug effects; D017698:Postmenopause; D011788:Quality of Life; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; D011960:Receptors, Estrogen / Q000378:metabolism; D011980:Receptors, Progesterone / Q000378:metabolism; D013629:Tamoxifen / Q000627:therapeutic use
D018931:Antineoplastic Agents, Hormonal; D047072:Aromatase Inhibitors; D011960:Receptors, Estrogen; D011980:Receptors, Progesterone; D013629:Tamoxifen