乳腺癌患者血清甲状腺激素水平和甲状腺过氧化物酶抗体表达及其临床意义

目的探讨乳腺癌患者三碘甲腺原氨酸（3,5,3’triiodothyronine,T3）、四碘甲腺原氨酸（3,5,3’,5’tetraiodothyronine,T4）、促甲状腺激素（thyroidstimulatinghormone,TSH）水平变化和甲状腺过氧化物酶抗体（TPO—Ab）的表达情况,分析其与乳腺癌临床病理因素的关系。方法收集2008年9月至2009年10月本院治疗的乳腺癌患者87例（乳腺癌组）,良性乳腺腺瘤患者79例（良性组）,应用放射免疫方法检测两组患者术前甲状腺激素（T3,T4andTSH）水平及TPO—Ab表达,并分析它们与乳腺癌临床病理因素的关系。统计学分析采用t检验和卡方检验。结果乳腺癌患者的血清T3水平较良性对照组降低（P=0．044）,TPO-Ab的表达阳性率较良性对照组高（P=0．040）,T4、TSH在两组间差异无统计学意义（P〉0．050）。乳腺癌患者T3降低与肿块大小、肿瘤分期、淋巴结转移有关（P〈0．050）,与年龄、病理类型、ER、PR表达情况无关（P〉0．050）。乳腺癌患者TPO—Ab高表达与肿块大小、肿瘤分期、淋巴结转移、ER、PR表达情况有关（P〈0．050）,与年龄、病理类型无关（P〉0．050）。结论乳腺癌患者血清甲状腺激素T3降低及TPO-Ab高表达可能反映乳腺癌的严重程度。     

乳腺癌不同手术方式对患者术后生存质量的影响

目的探讨不同手术方式对乳腺癌患者术后生存质量的影响。方法采用已通过检验的美国HopeCity医学研究中心编制的《乳腺癌生存质量评定量表》和Olson婚姻质量问卷，对149例乳腺癌术后1年的患者进行问卷调查分析。结果接受不同手术方式的乳腺癌患者的生存质量（QOL）评分，随手术范围的缩小呈上升趋势。经典根治术与改良根治术、保乳手术方式之间的差异有统计学意义（P〈0．05），而改良根治术与保乳手术之间的QOL差异无统计学意义（P〉0．05）。乳腺癌患者接受不同方式的手术后，其婚姻质量的评分随手术范围的缩小而呈上升趋势。并且，经典根治术、改良根治术与保乳手术方式之间差异有统计学意义（P〈0．05），但仍小于常模。结论接受改良根治术的乳腺癌患者术后生存质量优于接受经典根治术者；保乳手术有助于婚姻质量的提高。     

乳腺癌组织中survivin和增殖细胞核抗原的表达及其临床意义

目的探讨乳腺癌组织中survivin和增殖细胞核抗原（PCNA）的表达及其临床价值。方法回顾性分析枣庄市立医院2001年1月至2006年12月手术治疗的156例乳腺癌患者的临床病理学资料（患者术前均未行化疗或放射治疗）。采用免疫组织化学SP法检测癌组织石蜡切片中survivin及PCNA的表达。定性资料间的比较,依据不同分析目的分别采用线性趋势检验、Kappa检验或χ^2检验;应用多因素Logistic回归分析与survivin及PCNA阳性表达有关的因素。结果乳腺癌中survivin及PCNA阳性表达与肿瘤病理分型、肿瘤大小无关（P〉0．050）,但其与组织学分级、临床分期、淋巴结转移数目相关（P〈0．050）。Survivin及PCNA阳性表达随着癌组织分化程度降低,淋巴结转移数目增加,临床分期增高而增强。多因素Logistic回归分析显示组织学分级是影响survivin及PCNA阳性表达的最主要因素（P〈0．050）。乳腺癌中survivin和PCNA的表达密切关联（Kappa值为0．256,P〈0．001）。Survivin和PCNA双阳性患者复发转移率高于双阴性患者（χ^2=6．510,P=0．011）。结论联合检测survivin及PCNA可作为判断乳腺癌生物学行为和预后的重要指标。     

康复护理对子宫肌瘤改良根治术后患者生育功能和生活质量的影响

目的探讨康复护理对子宫肌瘤改良根治术后患者生育功能和生活质量的影响。方法180例子宫肌瘤患者根据护理方法的不同分为观察组和对照组,每组90例。所有患者采用子宫肌瘤改良根治术与传统康复护理,同时观察组患者采用基于临床路径的康复护理。结果观察组患者的术后排气时间、术后住院时间和住院费用明显少于对照组（P〈0．05）。随访6个月,观察组患者的生活质量量表中的社交功能、躯体角色限制和心理健康得分明显高于对照组（P〈0．05）。观察组患者在随访3个月、6个月和1年的妊娠率均明显高于对照组,差异有统计学意义（P〈0．05）。结论基于临床路径的康复护理在子宫肌瘤改良根治术中的应用有利于加快患者的恢复,减少医疗成本,提高术后生活质量,有利于生育功能的恢复。     

采用射频消融治疗原发性肝癌前后生命质量变化的前瞻性研究

目的：前瞻性分析肝细胞肝癌（hepatocellular carcinoma，HCC）患者射频消融（Radiofrequency Ablation，RFA）治疗前、后生命质量（quality of life，QOL）动态变化，分析术前自我评价及QOL得分与无瘤生存率的关系。方法：采用国内肝癌特异性生命质量量表（QOL—LCV2．0）对经RFA治疗的31例HCC患者，进行治疗前、后共三个时间QOL问卷调查，并探讨术前自我评价得分及QOL得分与近期无瘤生存率的关系。结果：RFA后QOL总分和躯体功能领域得分均呈上升趋势，于2～3个月时高于治疗前水平。症状和副作用得分在治疗后1个月后增高．并于2—3个月时保持不变.心理领域得分与自我评价得分的变化相似，先上升后于2—3个月时下降，但仍高于治疗前水平。RFA后复发／新生组自评得分先上升，之后明显下降：非复发／新生组得分则上升后平稳至2～3个月。治疗前躯体功能得分〉45、患者自评得分〉70的患者，治疗后1年内无瘤生存率分别高于低得分组（x^2=4-30，P=0．038；x^2=4．34，P=0．037）。结论：RFA治疗后1～3个月内，QOL总分及躯体领域得分呈现上升趋势，但患者自我评价和心理状态在第3个月时下降；治疗前躯体功能得分≤45、自评得分≤70且治疗后自评得分下降的患者警惕有复发／新生的可能。     

胃癌术后早期复发的相关因素分析

目的研究胃癌术后早期复发的相关因素。方法回顾性分析106例胃癌根治术后复发病例的临床资料。结果106例患者平均复发时间为胃癌根治术后18．3个月。其中早期（≤2年）复发者86例（81．1％），晚期（〉2年）复发者20例（18．9％）。单因素分析显示，胃癌术后复发时间与肿瘤大小、浸润深度、区域淋巴结转移、阳性淋巴结数目有关（P〈0．05），而年龄、性别、肿瘤位置、分化程度、首次手术方式、淋巴结清扫范围及术后是否化疗等因素对胃癌复发时间的影响差异无显著性（P〉0．05）。多因素回归分析筛选出浆膜层侵犯与阳性淋巴结个数为胃癌术后早期复发的独立性相关因素（P〈0．05）。结论浆膜层受侵犯及胃周阳性淋巴结数目是预测进展期胃癌根治术后早期复发的最重要因素。     

乳腺癌患者外周血乳腺小黏蛋白的检测及其临床意义

目的探讨不同人群外周血中乳腺小黏蛋白（small breast epithelial mucin,SBEM）水平以及乳腺癌患者外周血中SBEM水平与病理因素的关系和临床意义。方法收集经病理证实的68例乳腺癌及20例乳腺纤维腺瘤和20例健康志愿者。采用酶联免疫吸附测定法（ELISA）检测3组不同人群血清SBEM水平。分析乳腺癌患者外周血中SBEM水平与病理因素的关系。3组均抽取空腹静脉血3ml。采集血样前乳腺癌患者及纤维腺瘤组患者均未接受放疗、化疗或生物治疗等干预措施及有创检查。统计分析,符合正态分布的,两组间比较采用独立样本t检验,多组间比较行方差分析,LSD法进行两两比较。不符合正态分布的多组比较采用Kruskal—Wallis H检验。结果3组间血清SBEM水平差异存在显著的统计学意义（P〈0．050）。乳腺癌组血清SBEM水平均高于纤维腺瘤组和健康志愿者组（P均〈0．001）。纤维腺瘤组与健康志愿者组相比,差异无统计学意义（P〉0．050）。乳腺癌患者的血清SBEM水平与淋巴结转移状况和TNM分期有关（P均〈0．001）,与患者的年龄、月经状况、病理类型、组织学分级、肿瘤大小、ER、PR、HER-2、P53、Ki-67、基因分型无关（P均〉0．050）。乳腺癌SBEM血清水平随淋巴结分期增加而升高,不同淋巴结分期间的SBEM水平差异有显著的统计学意义（P〈0．001）。结论SBEM特异性表达于乳腺癌外周血。乳腺癌患者外周血SBEM水平在一定程度上能够反映临床分期和腋窝淋巴结情况,有望成为检测乳腺癌外周血微转移的标志物和判断乳腺癌病情发展和预后的指标。     

外科多专业合作胸壁切除与重建术在乳腺癌侵犯胸壁患者治疗中的地位

目的探讨由切除外科及重建外科医师合作完成的胸壁切除与重建术（CWRR）在乳腺癌侵犯胸壁患者治疗中的地位。方法由切除外科和重建外科合作完成CWRR44例,切除后胸壁软组织缺损35～800cm^2;同时切除骨性胸壁15例,骨性胸壁缺损5～320cm^2。切除后立即重建43例,因伤口原因延迟重建1例。根治切除36例,姑息切除8例。进行以电话及门诊复查为主的随访,随访时间为5．0～285．0个月。结果全组无手术后30d死亡者。CWRR术后,根治性切除患者术后中位生存时间〉36．0个月,1、3、5年生存率分别为71．5％、65．7％和65．7％;姑息性切除患者术后中位生存时间为15．1个月,1、3、5年生存率分别为35．1％、23．4％和7．8％。根治性切除患者的生存率高于姑息性切除患者（P=0．018）。原发乳腺癌患者术后中位生存时间为44．7个月,1、3、5年生存率分别为78．4％、78．4％和39．2％。复发乳腺癌患者术后中位生存时间为36．0个月,1、3、5年生存率均为70．9％。有转移者术后中位生存时间为16．0个月,1、3、5年生存率分别为30．0％、15．0％和0。原发性乳腺癌患者与复发性乳腺癌患者术后生存率差异无统计学意义（P=0．752）,而有转移者术后生存率明显低于原发乳腺癌患者（P=0．003）或复发乳腺癌患者（P=0．018）。结论只有切除外科和重建外科同时参与才能完成符合肿瘤治疗原则的复杂CWRR。在完成乳腺癌全盘治疗计划、全身和局部疾病得到良好控制的前提下,根治性CWRR能改善侵及胸壁乳腺癌患者的生存,适当的姑息性CWRR可改善患者的生活质量。     

老年结肠癌根治术后复发转移Cox模型回归分析

目的收集并分析2002年1月-2013年6月11年问209例行结肠癌根治术的老年患者的病理特征和手术情况,探讨影响术后复发转移的因素。方法采用Cox风险比例模型对患者的年龄、性别、病程、住院时长、手术医生经验、手术时长、是否为腹腔镜手术、肿瘤部位、肿瘤大小、肿瘤大体形态、分化程度、浸润深度、淋巴结转移和梗阻共计14个变量进行单因素和多因素分析,运用Kaplan—Meier法绘制患者术后复发转移生存曲线。结果单因素分析发现,肿瘤大小（RR：2．658,P〈0．0001）、大体形态（浸润型RR=3．407,P=0．0054）、分化程度（RR=0．32,P〈0．0001）与结肠癌根治术后复发转移有关,多因素分析结果显示,患者性别（RR=0．585,P=0．0359）、肿瘤大小（RR=2．364,P〈0．0001）、大体形态（浸润型RR=0．246,P=0．0437）、分化程度（RR=0．31,P〈0．0001）与结肠癌根治术后复发转移有关。结论患者性别、肿瘤大小、大体形态和分化程度是影响老年结肠癌根治术后复发转移的因素,对确定高危人群,进行有针对性的术后随访,提早发现和治疗有重要意义,有利于提高患者生活质量,延长患者生存时间,     

乳腺癌保留乳房治疗后乳房美容效果的影响因素探讨

目的回顾性分析早期乳腺癌患者保留乳房治疗后影响美容效果的相关因素。方法本院于1999年11月至2008年12月对162例临床0、Ⅰ、ⅡA期的乳腺癌患者实施保留乳房治疗,将乳头横向移位距离、乳头纵向移位距离、体表凹陷程度、乳房质地与弹性及皮肤色泽作为保留乳房治疗后的评判指标,于放射治疗后6个月综合评分判断美容效果。良好率差异比较采用卡方检验。结果共实施保留乳房手术162例,占同期乳腺癌手术患者的12．8％（162／1266）,术后病理分期为0期32例,Ⅰ期83例,ⅡA期47例。全部病例获随访,复发率为9．9％（16／162）。保留乳房治疗后美容效果良好占61．1％（99／162）,一般占35．2％（57／162）,差占3．7％（6／162）。采用双切口、保留皮肤、肿瘤广泛切除及适形放射治疗等技术者美容效果良好率显著高于单切口、切除皮肤、象限切除及非适形放射治疗组（P〈0．01）,而肿瘤分期和术后放射治疗开始时间是否早于12周对美容效果无影响（P〉0．05）。结论乳腺癌患者保留乳房治疗后美容效果良好,采用双切口、保留皮肤和肿瘤广泛切除等手术技巧以及适形放射治疗可提高保留乳房治疗的美容效果。     

Changes in quality of life among breast cancer patients three years post-diagnosis

Objectives To evaluate changes in quality of life (QOL) and identify medical and socio-demographic predictors of QOL among breast cancer survivors 3 years after diagnosis. Methods Between April 2002 and March 2004 2,232 women with breast cancer were recruited into the Shanghai Breast Cancer Survival Study, a population-based cohort study, approximately 6 months after cancer diagnosis. QOL was evaluated at 6 and 36 months post-diagnosis using the General Quality of Life Inventory. Multiple linear regression models were used to evaluate changes in QOL and their associations with socio-demographic and medical factors. Results In general, breast cancer patients showed significant improvement over time in the physical, psychological, and social well-being domains, as well as overall QOL. However, QOL scores in several facets did not improve or even deteriorated, including increased negative feelings, reduced social support and interpersonal relationships, and worsened financial situation and living environment. Age at diagnosis was inversely associated with QOL changes in physical and psychological well-being and overall QOL scores. Compared with those who were disease-free, patients with a recurrence of disease had significantly poorer QOL scores across all well-being domains and almost all facets. Patients who received radiotherapy experienced significant improvements in physical and social well-being and overall QOL. Mixed ER/PR status was associated with improved scores in physical and psychological well-being and overall QOL. Education, body mass index, Charlson comorbidity score, TNM stage, type of surgery, chemotherapy, and immunotherapy were only associated with changes in certain well-being domains and/or facets, but not overall QOL. Tamoxifen use was not associated with changes in QOL outcomes. Conclusions Our study provides valuable information for developing strategies/interventions for improving the QOL of breast cancer patients.     

Associations among baseline variables,treatment-related factors and health-related quality of life 2 years after breast cancer surgery

Provision of social support and rehabilitation for patients with physical, mental, and functional problems after cancer treatment is important for long-term health-related quality of life (HRQOL). Effective use of human and financial healthcare resources requires identification of patients requiring rehabilitation. The objectives of the current study were to clarify the patterns of physical and psychosocial recovery over time, to evaluate the associations among baseline variables, treatment-related factors and HRQOL at 6 months, 1, and 2 years after breast cancer surgery, and to identify the significant factors predicting HRQOL at each point. A multicenter longitudinal study was performed to evaluate physical conditions, anxiety, depression, and HRQOL at 1 month (baseline), 6 months, 1, and 2 years after surgery in 196 patients (mean age: 53.3 years old) with early breast cancer and no postoperative recurrence. Physical conditions were evaluated using a patient-reported symptom checklist. HRQOL was rated using the functional assessment of cancer treatment scale-general (FACT-G) and the breast cancer subscale (FACT-B). Anxiety and depression were rated using the hospital anxiety and depression scale (HADS). More than 50% of patients had local problems of “tightness”, “arm weakness.” and “arm lymphedema”, and systemic problems of “reduced energy, fatigue, and general weakness” postoperatively. The HRQOL score significantly improved 1 year after surgery, and scores for physical, emotional and functional well-being also increased with time, whereas the score for social well-being was the highest at baseline and decreased with time. Depression and anxiety significantly improved with time. Concomitant disease, marital status, and the presence of a partner, anxiety and depression at baseline, pathological lymph node involvement, and adjuvant intravenous chemotherapy were significant factors predicting FACT-G scores at 6 months, 1, and 2 years after surgery. Depression at baseline was a strong predictor of HRQOL up to 2 years after surgery. These results suggest that physical rehabilitation is required for tightness and lymphedema to improve long-term postoperative physical function. A further study of psychosocial interventions is required to improve depression and social well-being after breast cancer surgery.     

Quality of Life Differences between Younger and Older Breast Cancer Patients

Purpose

This study was designed to investigate quality of life (QOL) differences between younger (<50 years) and older (≥50 years) breast cancer survivors and to determine the unique effect of age on QOL after adjusting age-correlated variables.

Methods

One thousand two hundred fifty patients were enrolled. Clinicopatholgical and social parameters were reviewed and Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy-Breast cancer instrument (FACT-B) and the Ladder of Life scale were used to measure the QOL. Among 1,250 eligible patients, 1,094 patients completed the questionnaire and were used for analysis. Chi-square test, t-test and a series of multiple regression analyses were conducted to verify age-related differences in QOL between two groups and to evaluate the unique contribution of age variable on QOL of breast cancer patients.

Results

Significant socio-demographic and clinical differences existed based on age categories, including education, job, time since surgery, chemotherapy and daily activity. Also, there were significant age-related differences in FACT-B total, physical well-being, social/family well-being, functional well-being and breast cancer subscale and in subjective QOL. Older patients ≥50 years showed significantly lower QOL than younger patients <50 years. However, after controlling for age-correlated variables including job, education, time since surgery, chemotherapy, and daily activity, there was no unique age difference in QOL among breast cancer survivors.

Conclusion

Our study results suggest that older women with breast carcinoma suffered significantly lower QOL, even though the unique age effect was not found. Therefore, various interventions for enhancing QOL for women with breast carcinoma should be provided to older age group.     

结肠癌患者全结肠系膜切除术后的生存状况及预后影响因素分析

目的 探讨结肠癌患者全结肠系膜切除术后的生存状况及预后影响因素.方法 选取行全结肠系膜切除术治疗结肠癌患者86例,收集患者性别、年龄、Dukes分期、病理类型等信息,分析全结肠系膜切除术治疗结肠癌患者的负性情绪[焦虑自评量表(SAS)、抑郁自评量表(SDS)]及生存质量评价量表(FACT-G)、术后5年生存状况和影响因...     

宫颈癌患者术后生活质量影响因素的调查研究

目的 探讨宫颈癌患者术后生活质量的影响因素.方法 选择80例宫颈癌患者作为研究对象,选择术后6个月作为调查时间点,收集所有患者的一般资料,包括年龄、肿瘤分期、肿瘤类型、治疗方式、婚姻状况、是否保留卵巢、经济收入、应对方式、社会支持评定量表(SSRS)评分,结合上述基本情况,再向患者发放癌症治疗功能评价系统(FACT)中的宫颈癌量表(FACT-Cx)问卷调查,分析影响宫颈癌患者术后生活质量的危险因素.结果 所有患者均完成问卷调查,结果显示,不同年龄、肿瘤类型宫颈癌患者的FACT-Cx评分比较,差异均无统计学意义(P﹥0.05);经Logistic多元回归分析结果显示,肿瘤分期、治疗方式、婚姻状况、是否保留卵巢、经济收入、应对方式、SSRS评分均是影响宫颈癌患者术后生活质量的危险因素(OR=1.845、2.387、1.857、2.785、1.753、1.463、2.896,P﹤0.05).结论 肿瘤分期、治疗方式、婚姻状况、是否保留卵巢、经济收入、应对方式、SSRS量表评分均是影响宫颈癌患者术后生活质量的危险因素,临床上在控制宫颈癌患者疾病进展的同时,重视对患者的心理干预和健康教育等,消除患者的心理负担,在提高宫颈癌患者的生活质量方面具有积极意义.     

Quality of life after sentinel lymph node biopsy in early breast cancer.

AIM: This study assessed the effects of multiple therapeutic factors on quality of life (QOL) in the treatment of breast cancer. METHODS: We surveyed 179 recurrence-free women with early breast cancer who had undergone a sentinel lymph node procedure, between January 1999 and June 2001. Age, tumour size, breast and axillary procedure, nodal status, chemotherapy, supra-clavicular fossa radiotherapy, and hormone therapy were tested as possible factors associated with poor QOL. RESULTS: Information on QOL was obtained for 148 out of 179 patients. Age less than 55 years and chemotherapy were factors associated with impairment of physical well-being. Tumour size was associated with poor socio-familial well-being. Factors associated with altered arm subscale scores were age <55, axillary procedure, nodal status, chemotherapy and supra-clavicular fossa radiotherapy. Unexpectedly, sentinel lymph node (SLN) procedure delayed the onset of chemotherapy if the metastatic status of SLN was not diagnosed intra-operatively. CONCLUSION: Efforts are needed to improve the QOL of young patients. Axillary procedure affects only QOL related to arm morbidity.     

Changes in well-being of women cancer survivors following a survivor weekend experience

PURPOSE/OBJECTIVES: To determine the long-term effects on quality of life (QOL) of women cancer survivors following a retreat experience. DESIGN: One-group repeated measures. SETTING: Southern California. SAMPLE: Participants in two 1998 Healing Odyssey Retreats (N = 41; response rate 67%). Most women were married (50%), had breast cancer (93%), and had been diagnosed within two years of the retreat (69%). Participants' mean age was 48 years. METHODS: The rehabilitative retreats took place in a mountain retreat center and consisted of multiple experiences guided by experiential learning theory. Exercises aimed to help women learn new tools for dealing with the challenges of cancer, treatment, and recovery. The QOL-Breast Cancer survey was used to collect data preretreat, immediately postretreat, at six weeks postretreat, and at six to seven months postretreat. MAIN RESEARCH VARIABLES: QOL subscale scores (physical, psychological, social, and spiritual well-being) and overall QOL scores. FINDINGS: At preretreat, women scored lower on psychological and social well-being than on physical and spiritual well-being. Total QOL, physical, psychological, and spiritual well-being scores differed significantly over time, with a significant increase immediately following the retreat that was maintained at six weeks and six months. Social well-being at six months was significantly greater than at the other three points. CONCLUSIONS: The Healing Odyssey Retreats enhanced women cancer survivors' total QOL-specifically their well-being in four dimensions. IMPLICATIONS FOR NURSING PRACTICE: Women who seek programs dealing with living life more fully after cancer and connections with other survivors may benefit from rehabilitative efforts such as this retreat.     

Impact of newly diagnosed breast cancer on quality of life among Chinese women

Background Being diagnosed with breast cancer is a very stressful event that has a profound impact on multiple aspects of a patient’s daily life. Little is known about the quality of life (QOL) of Chinese women with newly diagnosed breast cancer. Methods The authors evaluated QOL in 2,236 Chinese women with newly diagnosed breast cancer who were recruited into the Shanghai Breast Cancer Survival Study between April 1, 2002 and March 31, 2004. Patients’ QOL was assessed after cancer diagnosis (median time 6.4 months; range 3.6–11.1 months) by using the General Quality of Life Inventory. Multiple linear regression models were used to analyze the associations of QOL outcomes with medical and socio-demographic factors. Results Patients showed significantly worse overall QOL and perceived health status than healthy women, reflected mainly by lower QOL scores in physical and psychological well-being domains. Completion of radiotherapy, ever use of tamoxifen, being underweight, having an increased number of chronic diseases, and low household income were significantly associated with lower overall QOL scores after adjusting for other factors. Age at diagnosis was inversely associated with physical well-being, positively associated with material well-being, and had minimal influence on overall QOL. Stage of disease, chemotherapy, and education were only associated with certain domains, but had no influence on overall QOL. Estrogen receptor/progesterone receptor status and type of surgery or immunotherapy did not appear to be associated with QOL. Conclusions The findings of the present study provide important information on QOL and their correlates among Chinese women with newly diagnosed breast cancer and are helpful in developing treatment strategies accordingly.     

Normative data for functional assessment of cancer therapy--general scale and its use for the interpretation of quality of life scores in cancer survivors

The aims of this study were to derive population-based reference values for the Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy Scale-General (FACT-G) and to investigate the impact of sociodemographic variables (e.g. age, sex, health status) on these quality of life (QOL) scores, and to compare the normative QOL scores with those of various groups of cancer survivors. A random sample of 2 000 members of the Austrian public were sent questionnaires containing the FACT-G and questions relating to demographic data and health status. A total of 968 questionnaires were returned giving an overall response rate of 50.6% (females 48.3%, age 49.3±16.8). Subjects with higher education reported higher QOL values; divorced and widowed persons had significantly lower QOL scores. Higher age was also associated with lower QOL scores. After bone marrow transplantation, patients generally showed lower QOL scores than the age- and sex-matched population-based sample, whilst in breast cancer survivors there was reduced QOL regarding social well-being. Survivors of Hodgkin's disease were found to have higher functional and social well-being scores than those of the general population sample. Sociodemographic variables should always be taken into consideration when interpreting QOL scores. Furthermore, unless patient data are compared with normative values, phenomena such as adaptation and response shift might be missed or misinterpreted.     

Determinants of quality of life in patients with cancer

BACKGROUND: Because health-related quality of life (QOL) is an important outcome in cancer management, the authors sought to better understand its determinants. To address this subject, they analyzed QOL, as measured with the Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy-General questionnaire (FACT-G), Spanish Version 4, and depicted the complex relations among physical, psychological, social, and cultural factors, including spirituality. METHODS: A cross-sectional study design was used with a sample of 309 patients with cancer. The influence of several possible determinants was first studied by univariate regression analysis. Variables showing an association were included in a forward stepwise multivariate regression model. RESULTS: Five regression models were studied, for the FACT-G total score and its four subscales. Five variables explained 32.1% of the variance of the FACT-G total score: tumor stage, spiritual well-being, income, mood disorders, and mode of questionnaire administration. The type and relevance of the explanatory variables differed among the various dimensions of QOL. CONCLUSIONS: The authors underlined the entwining of biologic, psychosocial, and spiritual factors as determinants of the QOL of patients with cancer, thus supporting the multidimensional definition and modeling of the construct.