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Annals of Oncology 14:1744-1750, 2003
© 2003 European Society for Medical Oncology

Original Paper

Functional status is well maintained in older women during adjuvant chemotherapy for breast cancer

J. M. Watters1,2,+, J. C. Yau3,§, K. O’Rourke1,4,¶, E. Tomiak3 and S. Z. Gertler3

1 Department of Surgery, 2 Ottawa Health Research Institute, 3 Ottawa Regional Cancer Centre, 4 Clinical Epidemiology Unit, Ottawa Hospital; Ottawa, Canada

Received 11 February 2003; revised 19 June 2003; accepted 12 August 2003

Background:

While adjuvant chemotherapy is known to improve survival in older women with breast cancer, there is little information about its effects on physical function and health-related quality of life.

Patients and methods:

‘Young’ (<65 years of age) and ‘older’ (>=65 years of age) postmenopausal women completed the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORTC) Quality of Life Questionnaire Core Module (QLQ-C30) and BR23 questionnaires and other measures prior to, during and at the completion of anthracycline-based adjuvant chemotherapy, and then 6 and 12 months later.

Results:

Physical, role and social function decreased during chemotherapy and emotional function improved (all P <0.01). The decline in physical function was more marked in young (age range 31–64 years; n = 45) than in older women (65–80 years; n = 20) (P <0.05), despite similar baseline values and drug dose intensities. Physical and role function had recovered at 6 months post-chemotherapy. Older patients had consistently better emotional function (P <0.01).

Conclusions:

Physical function and other functional domains are impaired in postmenopausal women during adjuvant chemotherapy for breast cancer, but recover subsequently. Physical function appeared to be better maintained in the older women, who tolerated adjuvant chemotherapy well overall. A knowledge of these effects is important for clinical decision-making and when defining social support needs during adjuvant chemotherapy.

Key words: adjuvant therapy, breast cancer, elderly, health-related quality of life, physical function


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