Health-related quality of life in long-term early-stage breast cancer survivors compared to general population in Korea

• Published in: Journal of cancer survivorship Vol. 19; no. 2; pp. 487 - 495
• Main Authors: Tran, Thi Xuan Mai, Jung, So-Youn, Lee, Eun-Gyeong, Cho, Heeyoun, Kim, Na Yeon, Shim, Sungkeun, Kim, Ho Young, Kang, Danbee, Cho, Juhee, Lee, Eunsook, Chang, Yoonjung, Cho, Hyunsoon
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: New York Springer US 01.04.2025; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Adult; Aged; Anxiety; Breast cancer; Breast Neoplasms - epidemiology; Breast Neoplasms - mortality; Breast Neoplasms - pathology; Breast Neoplasms - psychology; Breast Neoplasms - surgery; Cancer Survivors - psychology; Cancer Survivors - statistics & numerical data; Case-Control Studies; Diagnosis; Female; Health Informatics; Health Promotion and Disease Prevention; Humans; Lumpectomy; Mastectomy; Medicine; Medicine & Public Health; Middle Aged; Neoplasm Staging; Oncology; Pain; Population studies; Primary Care Medicine; Public Health; Quality of Life; Quality of Life Research; Republic of Korea - epidemiology; Surveys; Republic of Korea; Health-related quality of life; Depression; Anxiety; Pain; Breast cancer survivor
• ISSN: 1932-2259; 1932-2267; 1932-2267
• DOI: 10.1007/s11764-023-01482-2

Purpose This study assessed health-related quality of life (HRQoL) of long-term breast cancer (BC) survivors diagnosed at early stages and compare with cancer-free, age-matched women. Methods The study population included BC survivors diagnosed with ductal carcinoma in situ ( DCIS) or breast cancer stages I-II, who had undergone lumpectomy/mastectomy, with time since diagnosis ranging from 9 to 16 years. Survey was conducted at two tertiary hospitals in 2020. Data for cancer-free female controls was randomly drawn from a population-based survey and age-, education-matched with 1 case: 3 controls ratio. Self-reported HRQoL was assessed using EQ-5D with five dimentions. EQ-5D utility index score was calculated. Difference in EQ-5D score was evaluated using the Tobit regression model with adjustment for other covariates. Results Of 273 survivors. 88% and 12% underwent mastectomy and lumpectomy, respectively. The mean (standard deviation, SD) age at survey was 57.3 (8.5) years old. BC survivors reported significantly more problems performing daily activities (11% vs. 5%, p < 0.001), pain/discomfort (46% vs. 23%, p < 0.001), and anxious/depressed feelings (44% vs. 8%, p < 0.001) relative to the controls. Difference in EQ-5D score between BC survivors and the general population was higher in older age groups. The overall EQ-5D score of BC survivors was statistically lower than that of the control subjects (adjusted β =0.117, p < 0.001). Conclusion Long-term BC survivors who survived beyond ten years post-diagnosis experience more pain, anxiety, and distress, leading to an overall poorer HRQoL. Implications for Cancer Survivors This study suggest the importance of follow-up care, particularly focusing on pain, anxiety, and distress management to enhance the HRQoL of long-term BC survivors.