title: Breast cancer morbidity: questionnaire survey of patients on the long term effects of disease and adjuvant therapy.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Many women have symptoms of various kinds after being treated for breast cancer. It is unclear how frequently these different side effects of treatment arise.
  
  
  METHODS
  All women who underwent surgery for breast cancer and subsequently received adjuvant systemic treatment in a single certified breast-cancer center from 2006 to 2010 were asked to fill out a standardized questionnaire. Medical data were retrieved from their charts and statistically analyzed together with the questionnaire responses. The questionnaire was also given to an age-adjusted control group.
  
  
  RESULTS
  734 questionnaires were filled out and returned (response rate, 70%). The mean interval from the diagnosis of breast cancer to the time of response to the questionnaire was 38 months. The median age at time of response to the questionnaire was 65 years (range, 30 to 91 years). The distribution of UICC stages at the time of initial diagnosis was as follows: I 46%, II 42%, III 12%. 78% of the patients underwent breat conserving surgery, 85% had radio - therapy, 85% had antihormonal treatment, and 49% had chemotherapy. 91% were satisfied or very satisfied with the outcome of surgery. 34% reported operation site pain; 35% reported limitations of shoulder or arm function. Younger patients suffered from emotional sequelae more than older ones did. 25% reported a change in their relationship with their spouse. Before being diagnosed with breast cancer, 9% had consulted a psychiatrist or psychotherapist; after the diagnosis, 19% did. 14% had taken psychoactive medication before the diagnosis, and 26% did afterward.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Treatment for breast cancer has negative physical, emotional, and social effects on many patients. They suffer these effects to varying degrees depending on age, type of surgery, and systemic treatment.
authors.affiliation: Institute for Health Services Research in Oncology (InVO), Koblenz.
authors.forename: Stefan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Feiten
authors.affiliation: Breast Cancer Center Marienhof, Catholic Clinical Center Koblenz-Montabaur, Koblenz.
authors.forename: Jan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Dünnebacke
authors.affiliation: Outpatient Clinic for Hematology and Oncology, Koblenz.
authors.forename: Jochen
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Heymanns
authors.affiliation: Outpatient Clinic for Hematology and Oncology, Koblenz.
authors.forename: Hubert
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Köppler
authors.affiliation: Outpatient Clinic for Hematology and Oncology, Koblenz.
authors.forename: Jörg
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Thomalla
authors.affiliation: Outpatient Clinic for Hematology and Oncology, Koblenz.
authors.forename: Christoph
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: van Roye
authors.affiliation: Breast Cancer Center Marienhof, Catholic Clinical Center Koblenz-Montabaur, Koblenz.
authors.forename: Diana
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Wey
authors.affiliation: Outpatient Clinic for Hematology and Oncology, Koblenz.
authors.forename: Rudolf
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Weide
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology* / Q000628:therapy*; D059186:Chemoradiotherapy, Adjuvant / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D005858:Germany / Q000453:epidemiology; D019538:Health Care Surveys; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008408:Mastectomy / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D017060:Patient Satisfaction / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D015995:Prevalence; D011788:Quality of Life / Q000523:psychology*; D012307:Risk Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome