title: Patients' perceptions of health-related quality of life during and after adjuvant radiotherapy for T1N0M0 breast cancer.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The effects of radiotherapy on health-related quality of life (HRQOL) may influence decisions about adjuvant radiotherapy after breast-conserving surgery. We sought women's ratings of HRQOL during and after radiotherapy.
  
  
  METHODS
  Women completed HRQOL measures before, during and after adjuvant radiotherapy for node-negative, hormone receptor-positive breast cancers that were less than 2 cm in size. Acute and late toxicities were rated by clinicians.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There were 161 participants with a median age of 58 years (range 34-82). Mean scores for most aspects of HRQOL worsened only slightly during radiotherapy and improved to baseline levels or better within a few months. The symptoms rated as most distressing were: difficulty sleeping (29%), fatigue (23%), breast discolouration (21%), uncertainty about the future (18%), feeling sad or depressed (18%), feeling anxious or worried (19%). Most rated their experience as better (39%) or much better (28%) than expected. Grade 3 toxicities were rare (5% acute, 1% late) with no grade 4 toxicities.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Radiotherapy was associated with transient and generally mild impairments in a few aspects of HRQOL. Concerns about adverse effects on HRQOL should not weigh heavily on decisions about adjuvant breast radiotherapy.
authors.affiliation: The University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia; Central Coast Cancer Centre, Gosford Hospital, Gosford, Australia. Electronic address: psun8480@uni.sydney.nsw.gov.au.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Sundaresan
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiation Oncology, Canberra Hospital, Canberra, Australia.
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Sullivan
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiation Oncology, St. Vincents Hospital, Sydney, Australia.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Pendlebury
authors.affiliation: National Health and Medical Research Council Clinical Trials Centre, Camperdown, Australia.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kirby
authors.affiliation: William Buckland Radiotherapy Centre, The Alfred Hospital, Melbourne, Australia.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Rodger
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiation Oncology, Sir Charles Gardiner Hospital, Perth, Australia; Department of Surgery, University of Western Australia, Perth, Australia; Genesis Cancer Care, Western Australia, Australia.
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Joseph
authors.affiliation: Waikato Breastcare Centre, Waikato Hospital, Hamilton, New Zealand.
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Campbell
authors.affiliation: The University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia.
authors.forename: H M
authors.initials: HM
authors.lastname: Dhillon
authors.affiliation: The University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia; National Health and Medical Research Council Clinical Trials Centre, Camperdown, Australia.
authors.forename: M R
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Stockler
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology / Q000523:psychology / Q000532:radiotherapy* / Q000601:surgery; D003657:Decision Making; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015412:Mastectomy, Segmental; D008875:Middle Aged; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D011788:Quality of Life; D018714:Radiotherapy, Adjuvant; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
keywords: Adjuvant treatment; HRQOL; breast cancer; decision making; quality of life; radiotherapy