Abstract
BACKGROUND:: Studies have rarely compared health outcomes for patients with breast cancer at different treatment stages. OBJECTIVE:: The purpose of the study was to compare symptoms and quality of life among patients with breast carcinoma receiving target, chemotherapy, or combined therapy. METHODS:: A longitudinal study was carried out with 57 patients receiving chemotherapy, 30 receiving target therapy, and 34 receiving combined therapy. Data were collected before the start of treatment, at 4 weeks, and at 12 weeks following the start of treatment. Symptom severity and interference were assessed by the M. D. Anderson Symptom Inventory. The physical and mental components of quality of life (physical component score [PCS] and mental component score [MCS]) were assessed using SF-36. RESULTS:: There were no significant differences in symptom severity and interference for patients in the 3 therapy groups. The PCSs did not differ significantly according to the therapy group but did decrease significantly after each treatment. Patients receiving target therapy had significantly higher MCSs than did patients receiving chemotherapy, but the MCSs did not differ significantly before and after the treatment. Patients with higher symptom severity and interference had worse PCS and MCS. CONCLUSIONS:: Patients at all treatment groups had worse physical components quality of life after treatment as compared with before treatment. Patients receiving target therapy had better mental components of quality of life. The mental components of quality of life remained stable during treatment. IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE:: Nurses should assess the patients' symptoms during treatment and provide timely intervention to optimize their quality of life.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 317-325 |
| Number of pages | 9 |
| Journal | Cancer Nursing |
| Volume | 36 |
| Issue number | 4 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - Jul 2013 |
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Keywords
- Breast carcinoma
- Quality of life
- Symptom
- Target therapy
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Oncology
- Oncology(nursing)
Cite this
A comparative study of symptoms and quality of life among patients with breast cancer receiving target, chemotherapy, or combined therapy. / Huang, Sheng Miauh; Tai, Chen-Jei; Lin, Kuan Chia; Tai, Cheng-Jeng; Tseng, Ling Ming; Chien, Li Yin.
In: Cancer Nursing, Vol. 36, No. 4, 07.2013, p. 317-325.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article
}
TY - JOUR
T1 - A comparative study of symptoms and quality of life among patients with breast cancer receiving target, chemotherapy, or combined therapy
AU - Huang, Sheng Miauh
AU - Tai, Chen-Jei
AU - Lin, Kuan Chia
AU - Tai, Cheng-Jeng
AU - Tseng, Ling Ming
AU - Chien, Li Yin
PY - 2013/7
Y1 - 2013/7
N2 - BACKGROUND:: Studies have rarely compared health outcomes for patients with breast cancer at different treatment stages. OBJECTIVE:: The purpose of the study was to compare symptoms and quality of life among patients with breast carcinoma receiving target, chemotherapy, or combined therapy. METHODS:: A longitudinal study was carried out with 57 patients receiving chemotherapy, 30 receiving target therapy, and 34 receiving combined therapy. Data were collected before the start of treatment, at 4 weeks, and at 12 weeks following the start of treatment. Symptom severity and interference were assessed by the M. D. Anderson Symptom Inventory. The physical and mental components of quality of life (physical component score [PCS] and mental component score [MCS]) were assessed using SF-36. RESULTS:: There were no significant differences in symptom severity and interference for patients in the 3 therapy groups. The PCSs did not differ significantly according to the therapy group but did decrease significantly after each treatment. Patients receiving target therapy had significantly higher MCSs than did patients receiving chemotherapy, but the MCSs did not differ significantly before and after the treatment. Patients with higher symptom severity and interference had worse PCS and MCS. CONCLUSIONS:: Patients at all treatment groups had worse physical components quality of life after treatment as compared with before treatment. Patients receiving target therapy had better mental components of quality of life. The mental components of quality of life remained stable during treatment. IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE:: Nurses should assess the patients' symptoms during treatment and provide timely intervention to optimize their quality of life.
AB - BACKGROUND:: Studies have rarely compared health outcomes for patients with breast cancer at different treatment stages. OBJECTIVE:: The purpose of the study was to compare symptoms and quality of life among patients with breast carcinoma receiving target, chemotherapy, or combined therapy. METHODS:: A longitudinal study was carried out with 57 patients receiving chemotherapy, 30 receiving target therapy, and 34 receiving combined therapy. Data were collected before the start of treatment, at 4 weeks, and at 12 weeks following the start of treatment. Symptom severity and interference were assessed by the M. D. Anderson Symptom Inventory. The physical and mental components of quality of life (physical component score [PCS] and mental component score [MCS]) were assessed using SF-36. RESULTS:: There were no significant differences in symptom severity and interference for patients in the 3 therapy groups. The PCSs did not differ significantly according to the therapy group but did decrease significantly after each treatment. Patients receiving target therapy had significantly higher MCSs than did patients receiving chemotherapy, but the MCSs did not differ significantly before and after the treatment. Patients with higher symptom severity and interference had worse PCS and MCS. CONCLUSIONS:: Patients at all treatment groups had worse physical components quality of life after treatment as compared with before treatment. Patients receiving target therapy had better mental components of quality of life. The mental components of quality of life remained stable during treatment. IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE:: Nurses should assess the patients' symptoms during treatment and provide timely intervention to optimize their quality of life.
KW - Breast carcinoma
KW - Quality of life
KW - Symptom
KW - Target therapy
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=84880570739&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=84880570739&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1097/NCC.0b013e318268f86d
DO - 10.1097/NCC.0b013e318268f86d
M3 - Article
C2 - 23047797
AN - SCOPUS:84880570739
VL - 36
SP - 317
EP - 325
JO - Cancer Nursing
JF - Cancer Nursing
SN - 0162-220X
IS - 4
ER -