title: Quality of life in elderly patients with localized breast cancer treated with radiotherapy. A prospective study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  There is a debate on the role of adjuvant Radiotherapy (RT) in elderly breast cancer patients. The aim is to study Quality of Life (QL) throughout the treatment and follow-up periods in early stages breast cancer patients who have started radiotherapy, and to compare the QL of axillary surgery groups.
  
  
  METHODS
  173 patients, ≥65 years completed the EORTC QLQ-C30 and QLQ-BR23, and the Interview for Deterioration in Daily Living Activities in Dementia(IDDD) questionnaires three times throughout treatment and follow-up periods. Linear mixed effect models were used to evaluate longitudinal changes in QL, and whether these changes differed among axillary surgery groups.
  
  
  RESULTS
  QL scores were high (>70/100 points) in most QL areas, with moderate limitations (>30) in sexual functioning and enjoyment, future perspective and global QL. In six areas there was a decline at the RT sessions end, that after 6 weeks was recovered. For three areas, there was an improvement in the follow-up measurement compared to the previous assessments. Changes in seven areas were <5 points. Axillary node dissection patients had a body image decrease (6 points) in the follow up period. The lymphadenectomy group had more fatigue (10 points, p = 0.078) than the other two axillary surgery groups.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Results orientate towards good patients' adaptation to their disease and treatments, and to administering RT in early stages breast cancer patients. QL differences between the axillary surgery groups and in their evolutions were few but have appeared in key QL areas.
authors.affiliation: Complejo Hospitalario de Navarra, Radiotherapeutic Oncology Department, Irunlarrea 3, 31008 Pamplona, Spain; Complejo Hospitalario de Navarra, Medical Oncology Department, Irunlarrea 3, 31008 Pamplona, Spain. Electronic address: jiarraras@correo.cop.es.
authors.forename: Juan Ignacio
authors.initials: JI
authors.lastname: Arraras
authors.affiliation: Complejo Hospitalario de Navarra, Radiotherapeutic Oncology Department, Irunlarrea 3, 31008 Pamplona, Spain.
authors.forename: Ana
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Manterola
authors.affiliation: Complejo Hospitalario de Navarra, Radiotherapeutic Oncology Department, Irunlarrea 3, 31008 Pamplona, Spain.
authors.forename: Gemma
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Asin
authors.affiliation: Complejo Hospitalario de Navarra, Medical Oncology Department, Irunlarrea 3, 31008 Pamplona, Spain.
authors.forename: Jose Juan
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Illarramendi
authors.affiliation: Complejo Hospitalario de Navarra, Medical Oncology Department, Irunlarrea 3, 31008 Pamplona, Spain.
authors.forename: Susana de la
authors.initials: Sde L
authors.lastname: Cruz
authors.affiliation: Fundación Miguel Servet-NavarraBiomed, Red de Investigación en Servicios Sanitarios en Enfermedades Crónicas (REDISSEC), Irunlarrea 3, 31008 Pamplona, Spain.
authors.forename: Berta
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Ibañez
authors.affiliation: Instituto Salud Pública, CIBER Salud Pública, Leyre 3, 31003 Pamplona, Spain.
authors.forename: Josu
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Delfrade
authors.affiliation: Complejo Hospitalario de Navarra, Medical Oncology Department, Irunlarrea 3, 31008 Pamplona, Spain.
authors.forename: Esteban
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Salgado
authors.affiliation: Complejo Hospitalario de Navarra, Radiotherapeutic Oncology Department, Irunlarrea 3, 31008 Pamplona, Spain; Complejo Hospitalario de Navarra, Medical Oncology Department, Irunlarrea 3, 31008 Pamplona, Spain.
authors.forename: Uxue
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Zarandona
authors.affiliation: Fundación Miguel Servet-NavarraBiomed, Red de Investigación en Servicios Sanitarios en Enfermedades Crónicas (REDISSEC), Irunlarrea 3, 31008 Pamplona, Spain.
authors.forename: Koldo
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Cambra
authors.affiliation: Complejo Hospitalario de Navarra, Medical Oncology Department, Irunlarrea 3, 31008 Pamplona, Spain.
authors.forename: Ruth
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Vera
authors.affiliation: Complejo Hospitalario de Navarra, Radiotherapeutic Oncology Department, Irunlarrea 3, 31008 Pamplona, Spain.
authors.forename: Miguel Angel
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Dominguez
mesh_terms: D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000523:psychology / Q000532:radiotherapy* / Q000601:surgery; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D016014:Linear Models; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011788:Quality of Life; D018714:Radiotherapy, Adjuvant; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
keywords: Breast cancer; EORTC; Elderly; Quality of life; Radiotherapy