Weight changes in postmenopausal breast cancer survivors over 2 years of endocrine therapy: a retrospective chart review.
Obesity and weight gain after breast cancer (BC) diagnosis can affect cancer outcomes. This study explores the question of weight change during the first 2 years of endocrine treatment (ET) to identify the independent effects of BC diagnosis and treatment on post-diagnosis weight trajectories in early-stage postmenopausal BC survivors.



The study design is a retrospective chart review. Chi square tests and ANOVA were used to compare patients who gained >2 kg, lost >2 kg, or had stable weight. Log-binomial regression models were used to evaluate associations between patient characteristics and weight trajectories.



The final sample is N = 300, with mean age at BC diagnosis of 65 years and 76% white. After 2 years of ET, 39% of study participants had gained >2 kg, 27% had lost >2 kg, and 34% had stable weight. Relative risks (RR) for weight gain were as follows: age at diagnosis = 0.98 (0.96, 0.99), being married = 1.48 (1.04, 2.12), weight change between BC diagnosis and start of ET = 0.98 (0.97, 0.99), Stage II = 1.42 (1.01, 2.01) or Stage III = 1.99 (1.41, 2.82), PR negative = 0.70 (0.51, 0.96), HER2 positive = 1.51 (1.07, 2.13), mastectomy = 1.49 (1.12, 1.98), axillary node dissection = 1.67 (1.27, 2.20), adjuvant chemotherapy = 1.49 (1.02, 2.19), and neoadjuvant chemotherapy = 2.29 (1.67, 3.14). Type of ET (tamoxifen or aromatase inhibitor) was not significant.



In our sample of postmenopausal early-stage BC survivors, a majority had stable or lost weight during the first 2 years of ET. Higher disease complexity and associated treatment posed higher RR for weight gain.
Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA. kirsten_nyrop@med.unc.edu.|Division of Hematology-Oncology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, 170 Manning Drive, Campus Box 7305, Chapel Hill, NC, 27599-7305, USA. kirsten_nyrop@med.unc.edu.
Kirsten A
KA
Nyrop
Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA.
Allison M
AM
Deal
Department of Exercise and Sport Science, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA.
Jordan T
JT
Lee
Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA.|Division of Hematology-Oncology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, 170 Manning Drive, Campus Box 7305, Chapel Hill, NC, 27599-7305, USA.
Hyman B
HB
Muss
Department of Health Behavior, Gillings School of Global Public Health, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA.
Seul Ki
SK
Choi
Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA.
Samara
S
Dixon
Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA.
Amy
A
Wheless
Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA.|Division of Hematology-Oncology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, 170 Manning Drive, Campus Box 7305, Chapel Hill, NC, 27599-7305, USA.
Lisa A
LA
Carey
Oncology Institute, Rambam Health Care Campus, Haifa, Israel.
Shlomit S
SS
Shachar
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D018931:Antineoplastic Agents, Hormonal / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001835:Body Weight; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology*; D000073116:Cancer Survivors; D017024:Chemotherapy, Adjuvant; D015897:Comorbidity; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D009362:Neoplasm Metastasis; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D009657:North Carolina / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000208:ethnology; D017698:Postmenopause; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D018570:Risk Assessment; D013997:Time Factors
D018931:Antineoplastic Agents, Hormonal
Chemotherapy; Early stage breast cancer; Endocrine treatment; Postmenopausal; Weight trajectories