title: Quality of life and symptom burden in patients with metastatic breast cancer.
abstract: The goal of this study was to examine the symptom burden (SB) and quality of life (QOL) in patients with metastatic breast cancer.
  
  
  
  Breast cancer patients with metastases were asked to complete the Edmonton Symptom Assessment System (ESAS) and FACT-B questionnaires. Statistical analysis was performed to identify (1) any differences in SB and QOL between patients with bone metastases only and patients with visceral +/- bone metastases and (2) any associations between SB and/or QOL and various clinical factors, including treatment with bisphosphonates, participation in a clinical trial and presence of brain metastases.
  
  
  
  A total of 174 patients were enrolled. Treatment with bisphosphonates was significantly associated with lower ESAS well-being scores (less symptoms) in patients with bone metastases only. In this same group, receiving treatment prior to diagnosis of metastases was significantly associated with increased fatigue, anxiety and dyspnoea. The presence of brain metastases was associated with higher physical well-being scores (increased QOL). Participation in clinical trials was associated with better QOL.
  
  
  
  Breast cancer patients with metastases have different SB and QOL in relation to the type of the metastases, treatment interventions and participation in clinical trials.
authors.affiliation: Odette Cancer Centre, Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada.
authors.forename: Christine
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Ecclestone
authors.affiliation: Odette Cancer Centre, Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada.
authors.forename: Ronald
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Chow
authors.affiliation: Odette Cancer Centre, Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada.
authors.forename: Natalie
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Pulenzas
authors.affiliation: Odette Cancer Centre, Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada.
authors.forename: Liying
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: Odette Cancer Centre, Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada.
authors.forename: Angela
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Leahey
authors.affiliation: Odette Cancer Centre, Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada.
authors.forename: Julia
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Hamer
authors.affiliation: Odette Cancer Centre, Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada.
authors.forename: Carlo
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: DeAngelis
authors.affiliation: Odette Cancer Centre, Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada.
authors.forename: Gillian
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Bedard
authors.affiliation: Odette Cancer Centre, Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada.
authors.forename: Rachel
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: McDonald
authors.affiliation: Odette Cancer Centre, Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada.
authors.forename: Anchal
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bhatia
authors.affiliation: Odette Cancer Centre, Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada.
authors.forename: Janet
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Ellis
authors.affiliation: Odette Cancer Centre, Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada.
authors.forename: Eileen
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Rakovitch
authors.affiliation: Odette Cancer Centre, Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada.
authors.forename: Sherlyn
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Vuong
authors.affiliation: Odette Cancer Centre, Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada. Edward.Chow@sunnybrook.ca.
authors.forename: Edward
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Chow
authors.affiliation: Odette Cancer Centre, Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada.
authors.forename: Sunil
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Verma
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001859:Bone Neoplasms / Q000556:secondary; D001932:Brain Neoplasms / Q000556:secondary; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000523:psychology* / Q000628:therapy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D009362:Neoplasm Metastasis; D011788:Quality of Life / Q000523:psychology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
keywords: Metastatic breast cancer; Quality of life; Symptom burden