title: Quality of life and metastatic breast cancer: the role of body image, disease site, and time since diagnosis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Too little is understood about the quality of life (QoL) concerns of patients diagnosed with advanced disease. While body image has been found to be consistently important for women with early-stage breast cancer, the impact of body image on women with metastatic breast cancer (MBC) is less frequently studied. This cross-sectional study aimed to identify factors affecting QoL in a sample of patients diagnosed with MBC, with particular attention to body image, disease site, and time since diagnosis.
  
  
  METHODS
  In total, 113 women diagnosed with MBC completed two QoL scales (EORTC QLQ30; EORTC BR23) as part of a larger study. Clinical characteristics were obtained via medical record review. Demographics, disease characteristics, and clinical factors were examined.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Time since diagnosis and location of metastases were found to affect patients' QoL, and most strikingly, this effect often differed for those with higher and lower body image. Body image appears to remain highly influential even for those living with a shortened life expectancy.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These findings indicate that the development of QoL support should more carefully consider patients diagnosed with MBC and the unique sets of body concerns that affect this population.
authors.affiliation: Departments of Psychology and Women's Studies, University of Michigan, 204 South State St., Ann Arbor, MI, 48109, USA. saramcc@umich.edu.
authors.forename: Sara I
authors.initials: SI
authors.lastname: McClelland
authors.affiliation: Departments of Psychology and Women's Studies, University of Michigan, 204 South State St., Ann Arbor, MI, 48109, USA.
authors.forename: Kathryn J
authors.initials: KJ
authors.lastname: Holland
authors.affiliation: Division of Hematology/Oncology, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Michigan Medical School and Health Management and Policy, University of Michigan School of Public Health, Ann Arbor, MI, USA.
authors.forename: Jennifer J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Griggs
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001828:Body Image; D001943:Breast Neoplasms; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D011788:Quality of Life / Q000523:psychology*; D018434:Sickness Impact Profile; D013997:Time Factors
keywords: Body image; Breast cancer; Metastatic; Middle age; Oncology; Quality of life