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Quality of life and toxicity in breast cancer patients using adjuvant TAC (docetaxel, doxorubicin, cyclophosphamide), in comparison with FAC (doxorubicin, cyclophosphamide, 5-fluorouracil)

  • Gynecologic Oncology
  • Published:
Archives of Gynecology and Obstetrics Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Objectives

The aim of this study was to compare two regimens of chemotherapy in patients with breast cancer, including FAC (doxorubicin, cyclophosphamide, and 5-fluorouracil) and TAC (docetaxel, doxorubicin and cyclophosphamide); and analyze the toxicity of these treatments and observe patient’s health-related quality of life.

Methods

Health-related quality of life was assessed for up to 4 months (from the beginning to the end of chemotherapy cycles), using European organization and cancer treatment quality of life questionnaire (EORTC) QLQ-C30. A group of 100 patients, with node-positive breast cancer were studied in order to compare the toxicity of adjuvant therapy TAC with FAC and the subsequent effects on the patient’s quality of life.

Results

After a 4-month follow-up of patients, our findings showed that despite having the same mean score of QOL at the start of adjuvant chemotherapy, the QOL in TAC arm was decreased more as a result of the higher range of toxicity in TAC regimen.

Conclusion

In spite of increase in disease-free patients who received TAC regimen and increase their survival rate, there is significant toxicity and decrease in QOL in TAC protocol compare to FAC protocol. Using prophylactic granulocyte colony stimulating factor (G-CSF) along with increased education aimed at improving patient’s knowledge and also the provision of a supportive group involving psychiatrics and patients that have successfully experienced the same treatment may be helpful.

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Acknowledgments

The authors would like to thank the 100 patients who agreed to participate in this study in spite of their bad physical and emotional condition. We gratefully acknowledge all the staff in the chemotherapy ward of Namazi Hospital and Mrs. Alison Geraldine Imanieh for editorial assistance. This study was funded by Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, registered 88-4648.

Conflict of interest

None.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Management and Medical Information Sciences, Shiraz University of Medical Science, Shiraz, Iran

    N. Hatam

  2. Department of Radiation Oncology, Namazi Hospital, Shiraz University of Medical Science, Shiraz, Iran

    N. Ahmadloo

  3. Division of the Health Economics, Center for Primary Health Care Research, Lund University, Lund, Sweden

    A. Ahmad Kia Daliri

  4. Shiraz University of Medical Science (SUMS), Shiraz, Iran

    P. Bastani

  5. Community Medicine Department, Shiraz University of Medical Science (SUMS), Shiraz, Iran

    M. Askarian

Authors
  1. N. Hatam
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  2. N. Ahmadloo
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  3. A. Ahmad Kia Daliri
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  4. P. Bastani
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  5. M. Askarian
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to N. Hatam.

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Hatam, N., Ahmadloo, N., Ahmad Kia Daliri, A. et al. Quality of life and toxicity in breast cancer patients using adjuvant TAC (docetaxel, doxorubicin, cyclophosphamide), in comparison with FAC (doxorubicin, cyclophosphamide, 5-fluorouracil). Arch Gynecol Obstet 284, 215–220 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00404-010-1609-8

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00404-010-1609-8

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