Annals of Oncology Advance Access originally published online on September 13, 2006
Annals of Oncology 2006 17(12):1777-1782; doi:10.1093/annonc/mdl299
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
© 2006 European Society for Medical Oncology
breast cancer |
Menopausal-type symptoms in young breast cancer survivors
1 Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
2 Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
3 Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Boston, MA, USA
4 Young Survival Coalition, New York, USA
* Correspondence to: Dr A. H. Partridge, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, 44 Binney Street, D1210, Boston, MA 02115, USA. Tel: +1(617) 632-3800; Fax: +1(617) 632-1930; E-mail: ahpartridge{at}partners.org
Background: There has been little previous information available about menopausal-type symptoms in very young breast cancer survivors.
Methods: In collaboration with the Young Survival Coalition, we conducted an Internet-based survey of women with a history of breast cancer diagnosed at age 40 years or younger using items derived from the Breast Cancer Prevention Trial symptom checklist.
Results: A total of 371 respondents were eligible for analysis. Mean age at diagnosis was 32.8 years and mean age at follow-up 36.2 years; 89% of women received chemotherapy, 49% tamoxifen, 15% ovarian suppression, 4% aromatase inhibitors. At the time of survey, 37% were taking tamoxifen and 9% ovarian suppression. Excluding women on ovarian suppression, 77% of women were premenopausal at follow-up. Many women reported bothersome menopausal-type symptoms. In particular, 46% of women reported hot flashes and 39% reported dyspareunia. In a linear regression model of symptom scores, current ovarian suppression, postmenopausal status, baseline anxiety before the diagnosis, pregnancy after the diagnosis, prior chemotherapy, and lower perceived financial status were associated with more bothersome symptoms.
Conclusion: A substantial number of young breast cancer survivors experience bothersome menopausal symptoms. While the women who responded to our survey may represent a select group of survivors, these findings may have important implications for treatment decision making and long-term quality of life of young women with breast cancer.
Key words: breast cancer, menopausal symptoms, quality of life, young women
CiteULike 
Connotea 
Del.icio.us What's this?
This article has been cited by other articles:
|
|
 |
|
  K. J. Ruddy, S. Gelber, J. Shin, J. E. Garber, R. Rosenberg, M. Przypysny, and A. H. Partridge Genetic testing in young women with breast cancer: results from a Web-based survey Ann. Onc., August 27, 2009; (2009) mdp355v1. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 M. Hickey, M. Peate, C.M. Saunders, and M. Friedlander Breast cancer in young women and its impact on reproductive function Hum. Reprod. Update, May 1, 2009; 15(3): 323 - 339. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 S. Bhatia and L. L. Robison Cancer Survivorship Research: Opportunities and Future Needs for Expanding the Research Base Cancer Epidemiol. Biomarkers Prev., July 1, 2008; 17(7): 1551 - 1557. [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 L. R. Schover Premature Ovarian Failure and Its Consequences: Vasomotor Symptoms, Sexuality, and Fertility J. Clin. Oncol., February 10, 2008; 26(5): 753 - 758. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
P. A. Ganz and E. E. Hahn Implementing a Survivorship Care Plan for Patients With Breast Cancer J. Clin. Oncol., February 10, 2008; 26(5): 759 - 767. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|