title: Quality of life in long-term premenopausal early-stage breast cancer survivors from Spain. Effects of surgery and time since surgery.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  More research is needed into Quality of Life (QoL) in young early-stage breast cancer patients in the long-term. Knowledge of long-term effects of surgery on QoL in breast cancer patients is limited. The purpose of this study was to assess QoL in premenopausal Spanish early- stage breast cancer patients over a long follow-up period and evaluate differences among surgery-treated groups and the influence of time on patient QoL.
  
  
  METHODS
  243 premenopausal stage I-III relapse-free breast cancer patients completed the EORTC QLQ-C30 and QLQ-BR23 questionnaire once during follow-up (5-20 years after surgery). Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were performed to estimate the results.
  
  
  RESULTS
  QoL mean scores were high in most areas (>80 points in functioning: <20 points in symptoms areas). Limitations were moderate (>30 points) in global QoL, sleep disturbance, future perspective, sexual areas, and hot flashes. Mastectomized patients had a 4-fold greater risk of low scores in body image. Patients with a longer follow-up showed lower systemic side effects, hot flashes and breast symptoms.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  QoL in Spanish premenopausal early-stage breast cancer patients in a long follow-up after surgery is high. Differences in QoL among surgery-treated groups are limited. Time since surgery influences treatment side effects.
authors.affiliation: Complejo Hospitalario de Navarra, Department of Medical Oncology, Pamplona, Spain.
authors.forename: Juan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Ignacio Arraras
authors.forename: Jose
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Juan Illarramendi
authors.forename: Susana
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: de la Cruz
authors.forename: Gemma
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Asin
authors.forename: Ana
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Manterola
authors.forename: Berta
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Ibanez
authors.forename: Esteban
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Salgado
authors.forename: Koldo
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Cambra
authors.forename: Uxue
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Zarandona
authors.forename: Miguel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Angel Dominguez
authors.forename: Ruth
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Vera
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology / Q000523:psychology / Q000601:surgery*; D018572:Disease-Free Survival; D055088:Early Detection of Cancer; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D008875:Middle Aged; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D016017:Odds Ratio; D017697:Premenopause; D011788:Quality of Life; D012307:Risk Factors; D013030:Spain; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome