Results of a questionnaire survey for symptom of late complications caused by radiotherapy in breast conserving therapy.
OBJECTIVE
The present study aimed to determine the prevalence of subjective symptoms of late complications mainly caused by radiotherapy in breast-conserving therapy (BCT), and to identify patients and treatment factors that may predict such complications.


METHODS
A cross-sectional survey was conducted on 247 patients who had had early breast cancer and who were free of recurrence after BCT. Self-administered questionnaires were mailed to the 247 patients. Patient and treatment factors were analyzed.


RESULTS
Responses were received from 193 of the 247 patients. Common perceptions of late complications included shrinking in size (85%), pain (73%), firmness (65%), thickening of the arm (34%), and changes in skin color (19%). However, high-grade toxicity (above Grade 2) was perceived in only 0.52-7.8% of patients. In multivariate models, shrinking in size was associated with age (P=0.020), pain was associated with additional boost irradiation (P=0.015), and firmness was associated with time after surgery (P=0.004).


CONCLUSIONS
Late complications as perceived by the patient herself after BCT are common, but tend to be of minimal severity. Most predictive factors are inevitably associated with late complications. However, the boost irradiation may not be indicated for every patient from a QOL perspective.
Ishiyama
Hiromichi
H
Department of Radiology, Kitasato University School of Medicine, Sagamihara, Kanagawa, Japan. hishiyam@kitasato-u.ac.jp
Niino
Keiji
K
Hosoya
Takaaki
T
Hayakawa
Kazushige
K
D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D000368:Aged; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000401:mortality / Q000532:radiotherapy* / Q000601:surgery; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004307:Dose-Response Relationship, Radiation; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D016015:Logistic Models; D015412:Mastectomy, Segmental / Q000379:methods / Q000401:mortality; D008875:Middle Aged; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D011788:Quality of Life; D011832:Radiation Injuries / Q000453:epidemiology*; D011879:Radiotherapy Dosage; D018714:Radiotherapy, Adjuvant; D011882:Radiotherapy, High-Energy / Q000009:adverse effects*; D018570:Risk Assessment; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D016019:Survival Analysis; D013997:Time Factors