title: Perceived cognitive function in breast cancer survivors: evaluating relationships with objective cognitive performance and other symptoms using the functional assessment of cancer therapy-cognitive function instrument.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Perceived cognitive impairment (PCI) has been shown to be one of the most common symptoms after breast cancer treatment. However, this symptom does not always correlate with objective cognitive performance and is often highly associated with other patient-reported symptoms.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  Using a sample of breast cancer survivors (BCS), this study examined relationships among the Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy-Cognitive (FACT-Cog) scale, a self-report questionnaire that measures PCI; impact on quality of life (QoL); comments from others (other); perceived cognitive ability (PCA); objective cognitive performance on tests of verbal memory, speed of processing, and executive functioning; and other symptoms (fatigue, depression, anxiety, and sleep disturbance).
  
  
  METHODS
  The BCS who were aged 40 years or older and at least one year post-chemotherapy treatment were enrolled. Participants completed questionnaires and a brief neuropsychological assessment.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 88 BCS who were on average 56.7 (SD 8.5) years old and 5.3 (SD 4.1) years post-treatment participated; 94% reported clinically significant PCI. The PCI was significantly correlated with some objective measures of immediate and delayed verbal memory and executive function, whereas PCA was associated with all these measures. The PCI and PCA were both significantly associated with depressive symptoms, fatigue, and anxiety, but only PCI was related to poor global sleep quality.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The PCA was highly correlated with objective neuropsychological performance and may be clinically useful in identifying problems with verbal memory and executive functioning in BCS.
authors.affiliation: Department of Adult Health, Indiana University School of Nursing, Indianapolis, Indiana, USA. Electronic address: dvonah@iu.edu.
authors.forename: Diane
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Von Ah
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology and Imaging Sciences, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, Indiana, USA.
authors.forename: Eileen F
authors.initials: EF
authors.lastname: Tallman
mesh_terms: D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000150:complications / Q000523:psychology* / Q000628:therapy; D003071:Cognition; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D010465:Perception; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D017741:Survivors / Q000523:psychology
keywords: Cognitive impairment; breast cancer survivor; neuropsychological assessment; symptoms