Effect of age and race on quality of life in young breast cancer survivors.
BACKGROUND
Given their early age at diagnosis, young breast cancer survivors (YBCSs) face issues that differ widely from their older counterparts.


METHODS
We mailed a survey to 2209 patients who were ≤ 45 years at the time of breast cancer (BC) diagnosis. Each survey was composed of the Quality of Life in Adult Cancer Survivors instrument, Menopause Symptom Scale, and questions aimed at obtaining pertinent background information.


RESULTS
One thousand ninety patients completed the survey. Mean age at time of diagnosis was 39.5 years; median years from diagnosis was 6.6 years. Distress related to vaginal dryness (P = .0002) and pain from intercourse (P = .0014) was significantly higher in patients who were < 5 years from diagnosis compared with those > 10 years from diagnosis. In the area of financial problems, black women had greater distress than did white women (P = .0010). Compared with white women, Hispanic women had worse family distress scores (P = .0028) and summary cancer-specific scores (P = .0076). Patients > 10 years from diagnosis had less sexual interest (P = .003) than did women who were closer to diagnosis. Women ≥ 40 years at diagnosis had significantly lower sexual interest (P = .0016) than did women < 40 years. Stage and neoadjuvant chemotherapy did not have a significant effect on quality of life (QOL).


CONCLUSIONS
Even in comparison to stage and neoadjuvant chemotherapy, race, age at diagnosis, and time from diagnosis have significant long-term effects on QOL after treatment for BC.
Department of Breast Medical Oncology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX. Electronic address: pmorrow@amgen.com.
Phuong Khanh
PK
Morrow
Department of Breast Medical Oncology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX.
Anita C
AC
Broxson
Department of Biostatistics, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX.
Mark F
MF
Munsell
Department of Behavioral Sciences, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX.
Karen
K
Basen-Enquist
Department of Behavioral Sciences, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX.
Carol K
CK
Rosenblum
Department of Behavioral Sciences, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX.
Leslie R
LR
Schover
Department of Health Disparities Research, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX.
Lynne H
LH
Nguyen
Department of Breast Medical Oncology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX.
Limin
L
Hsu
Department of Breast Medical Oncology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX.
Lilibeth
L
Castillo
Department of Breast Medical Oncology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX.
Karin M
KM
Hahn
Department of Breast Medical Oncology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX.
Jennifer K
JK
Litton
Department of Breast Medical Oncology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX.
Danielle N
DN
Kwiatkowski
Department of Breast Medical Oncology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX.
Gabriel N
GN
Hortobagyi
D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000145:classification / Q000208:ethnology* / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy; D005006:Ethnicity / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D011788:Quality of Life; D044469:Racial Groups; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D017741:Survivors / Q000523:psychology*
Age at diagnosis; Survey; Years from diagnosis