title: Effect of endocrine therapy on quality of life and cognitive functions in patients with breast cancer.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The use of endocrine therapy (ET) in postmenopausal breast cancer patients may affect their cognitive status. This study aims to assess the effects of tamoxifen and aromatase inhibitors (Als) on quality of life (QoL) and cognitive functions in breast cancer patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  The study included 101 patients receiving tamoxifen, 97 patients receiving Als, and 95 patients without any ET. All patients completed both the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORTC) QLQ-C30 and the Short Form-12 (SF-12) questionnaires.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The patients' characteristics were similar between the groups. The mean duration of ET was 2.6 years for tamoxifen and 2.5 years for Als. EORTC QLQ-C30 global scores and cognitive functioning scores as well as SF-12 mental scorings (mcs) were found not significantly different between patients without any ET and those receiving tamoxifen or Als (p = 0.529, p = 0.333, and p = 0.452, respectively). SF-12 mcs correlated moderately with EORTC QLQ-C30 global scores for the 3 treatment groups (all p values < 0.001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our study suggests that QoL and cognitive functions are similar in patients receiving Als or tamoxifen. Moreover, it appears that these parameters also do not differ in patients with respect to the use of ET.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Oncology, Cumhuriyet University Faculty of Medicine, Sivas, Ankara, Turkey.
authors.forename: Saadettin
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kilickap
authors.affiliation: Department of Preventive Oncology, Hacettepe University Institute of Oncology, Ankara, Turkey.
authors.forename: Mutlu
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hayran
authors.affiliation: Department of Public Health, Hacettepe University Faculty of Medicine, Ankara, Turkey.
authors.forename: Banu
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Cakir
authors.affiliation: Department of Public Health, Hacettepe University Faculty of Medicine, Ankara, Turkey.
authors.forename: Nesrin
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Cilingiroglu
authors.affiliation: Department of Preventive Oncology, Hacettepe University Institute of Oncology, Ankara, Turkey.
authors.forename: Mustafa
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Erman
authors.affiliation: Research Project Office, Bogazici University, Istanbul, Ankara, Turkey.
authors.forename: Guldal
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Buyukdamgaci
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Oncology, Hacettepe University Institute of Oncology, Ankara, Turkey.
authors.forename: Yavuz
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Ozisik
keywords: Aromatase inhibitors; Breast cancer; Cognitive function; Endocrine therapy; Quality of life; Tamoxifen