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A comparison of quality of life and satisfaction of women with early-stage breast cancer treated with breast conserving therapy vs. mastectomy in southern China

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Abstract

Background

The purpose of this study was to compare the quality of life (QoL) and overall satisfaction with treatment of women with stage T1-2N0M0 breast cancer treated with breast conserving therapy (BCT) or mastectomy (MAS) in southern China.

Methods

Functional assessment of cancer therapy—breast, traditional Chinese version 4 (FACT-B), was administered to 180 patients with stage T1-2N0M0 breast cancer (82 BCT and 98 MAS) treated between July 2000 and July 2008.

Results

The two groups differed in tumor pathology and how axillary lymph nodes were treated (sentinel node biopsy vs. dissection), while other disease and socioeconomic characteristics were similar. The median follow-up after completion of radiotherapy was 60 months in the BCT group, and 65 months in the MAS group. The scores of the physical, functional, and emotional domains and breast-specific concerns of FACT-B were not significantly different between the groups. The social domain score of the BCT group was significantly greater than those of the MAS group.

Conclusions

Patients who underwent BCT did not report better QoL than those who received MAS, but BCT patients experienced easier social adjustment.

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Conflicts of Interest

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Radiation Oncology, Cancer Centre of Sun Yat-Sen University, 651 Dongfeng Road East, Guangzhou, 510060, China

    Z.-Y. He, F.-Y. Li, H.-X. Lin & X.-X. Guan

  2. State Key Laboratory of Oncology in Southern China, Guangzhou, 510060, China

    Z.-Y. He, S.-G. Wu, F.-Y. Li, H.-X. Lin & X.-X. Guan

  3. Department of Radiation Oncology, Cancer Center, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanhua University, Hengyang, China

    Q. Tong

  4. Department of Radiation Oncology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xiamen University, Xiamen, China

    S.-G. Wu

Authors
  1. Z.-Y. He
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  2. Q. Tong
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  3. S.-G. Wu
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  4. F.-Y. Li
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  5. H.-X. Lin
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  6. X.-X. Guan
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to X.-X. Guan.

Appendix 1. Interview questions

Appendix 1. Interview questions

  1. 1.

    What factors did you consider when you chose the treatment option?

Answer: Therapeutic efficacy, postoperative outlook, or economic burden

  1. 2.

    Were you satisfied with the efficacy of surgery?

Answer: Completely unsatisfied, unsatisfied, satisfied, completely satisfied

  1. 3.

    If you have tried chemotherapy therapy, were you satisfied with the efficacy of the therapy? (Ignore this question if you have never tried chemotherapy.)

Answer: Completely unsatisfied (because___________), unsatisfied, satisfied, completely satisfied

  1. 4.

    Did you choose the chemotherapy program by yourself? (Ignore this question if you have never tried chemotherapy.)

Answer: Yes, I choose the program by myself.

No, it is the doctor/other people that made a choice for me though I participated in the process of decision making.

  1. 5.

    If you have tried radiotherapy, were you satisfied with the efficacy of the therapy? (Ignore this question if you have never tried radiotherapy.)

Answer: Completely unsatisfied (because___________), unsatisfied, satisfied, completely satisfied

  1. 6.

    Were you satisfied with the efficacy of endocrine therapy? (Ignore this question if you have never tried endocrine.)

Answer: Completely unsatisfied (because___________), unsatisfied, satisfied, completely satisfied

  1. 7.

    Did you choose the endocrine therapy program by yourself? (Ignore this question if you have never tried endocrine.)

Answer: Yes, I choose the program by myself.

No, it is the doctor/ other people that made a choice for me though I participated in the process of decision making.

  1. 8.

    Do you think having breast adenocarcinoma affected your outlook? (Ignore this question if you do not have breast adenocarcinoma.)

Answer: Quite tremendous and negative effect, some negative effects, no negative effects, some positive effects, quite tremendous and positive effect

  1. 9.

    Do you think having breast adenocarcinoma affected your sexual life? (Ignore this question if you do not have breast adenocarcinoma.)

Answer: Quite tremendous and negative effect, some negative effects, no negative effects, some positive effects, quite tremendous and positive effect.

  1. 10.

    What is the level of concern for you as a couple?

Answer: No concern, concern, great concern.

  1. 11.

    What is the level of concern from your family members?

Answer: No concern, concern, great concern.

  1. 12.

    How do you describe your temperament?

Answer: Extrovert, introvert, between extrovert and introvert.

  1. 13.

    Has there been any important event in your daily life that influenced your mood?

Answer: No, no eventful thing has happened within this year.

Yes, something happened that had a minor/ medium/ major effect on my mood. The event was__________________.

  1. 14.

    Have you had a postoperative recurrence?

Answer: No.

Yes. Partial recurrence/distal metastasis.

  1. 15.

    What therapy do you receive at present?

Answer: None. I do not receive any therapy.

Yes, I am receiving radiotherapy/chemotherapy therapy/endocrine therapy/other therapy____________.

  1. 16.

    Did any medical worker provide you any psychological support during the period that you received any therapy.

Answer: No/Yes

  1. 17.

    If you received support, do you think the psychological support from a medical worker was essential for you?

Answer: Yes, I need such support.

The support was not essential, but it was good to receive it.

No, I do not think the support is necessary.

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He, ZY., Tong, Q., Wu, SG. et al. A comparison of quality of life and satisfaction of women with early-stage breast cancer treated with breast conserving therapy vs. mastectomy in southern China. Support Care Cancer 20, 2441–2449 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00520-011-1364-9

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00520-011-1364-9

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