Quality of life of Latina and Euro-American women with ductal carcinoma in situ.
BACKGROUND
Risk factors for psychosocial distress following a breast cancer diagnosis include younger age, history of depression, inadequate social support, and serious comorbid conditions. Although these quality of life (QOL) concerns have been studied in women with ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS), Latina women have been understudied.


METHODS
Data were from a cross-sectional telephone survey of Latina and Euro-American women with DCIS recruited through a population-based cancer registry. The sample included 396 Euro-American women and 349 Latina women; 156 were interviewed in English and 193 in Spanish, with a median of 2 years after diagnosis. Regression models were created for measures in each of the following four QOL domains: physical, psychological, social, and spiritual.


RESULTS
Younger age, no partner, and lower income were related to lower QOL in various domains. Physical comorbidities were associated with lower physical, psychological, and social QOL; lingering effects of surgery and prior depression were associated with lower QOL in all domains. English-speaking and Spanish-speaking Latinas (SSLs) reported higher spiritual QOL, and SSLs reported lower social QOL than Euro-American women.


CONCLUSIONS
Despite having lower mortality, women with DCIS are treated with surgery and radiation therapy as if they have invasive cancer, and the aftereffects of treatment can impact their QOL. SSLs are at risk for lower QOL partly because of poverty. However, Latinas' greater spiritual QOL may mitigate some of the psychological and social effects of treatment.


CONCLUSIONS
It is important to incorporate these findings into treatment decision making (choice of surgical treatment) and survivorship care (monitoring women with a history of depression or physical comorbidity).
University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA 94720-7360, USA. jbloom@berkeley.edu
Joan R
JR
Bloom
Susan L
SL
Stewart
Anna M
AM
Napoles
E Shelly
ES
Hwang
Jennifer C
JC
Livaudais
Leah
L
Karliner
Celia P
CP
Kaplan
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000150:complications / Q000208:ethnology / Q000523:psychology*; D002285:Carcinoma, Intraductal, Noninfiltrating / Q000150:complications / Q000208:ethnology / Q000523:psychology*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003863:Depression / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology; D005260:Female; D006630:Hispanic or Latino / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D011581:Psychological Tests; D011788:Quality of Life / Q000523:psychology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D044465:White People / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D055815:Young Adult