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Quality of life in patients with ductal carcinoma in situ of the breast treated with conservative surgery and postoperative irradiation

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Abstract

Aim of the study: To evaluate the quality of life (QL) in patients with ductal carcinoma in situ of the breast treated with conservative surgery and postoperative irradiation.

Material and methods: A self‐completed questionnaire covering many disease‐, symptom‐, and treatment‐specific issues was administered to 106 conservatively treated patients affected by non‐infiltrating breast cancer. The questionnaire was based on a series of 34 items assessing five main fields of post‐treatment adjustment: physical well being, sexual adaptation, aesthetic outcome, emotional/psychological well being, relational behaviour. Furthermore, the patients were requested to evaluate the degree of information provided by the medical staff concerning surgical procedures and radiation therapy, and to evaluate the effects of the treatment on their social and overall life.

Results: The questionnaire was completed by 83 patients (78%), who had a median follow‐up of 54.5 months. This final sample had a median age of 50 years (range 29–88) at the time of treatment and 54 years (range 32–94) at the time of study. The patients claimed to be in good physical condition. Data relating to sexual life were provided by 93% of the sample. Some limitations in sexuality, some interference with sexual desire, and some modifications during intercourse were reported by 5, 6, and 5 patients, respectively. The subjective evaluations of the cosmetic results of the therapies were generally good. Only 13 patients (16%) reported the perception of a worsened body image. Forty‐six percent of the sample (38 patients) declared that they felt tense, 48% (39 patients) nervous, 29% (38 patients) lonely, 59% (41 patients) anxious, and 41% (34 patients) depressed. Only seven patients (8%) declared that the treatment had had a bad effect on their social life, and 15 (18%) thought that their current life had been affected by the treatment. The amount of information received concerning the disease and treatment (surgery and radiotherapy) was considered sufficient by 79%, 75%, and 79% of the sample, respectively.

Conclusions: This study revealed a good QL in patients treated with breast conservation and postoperative irradiation, with a preserved favourable body image and a lack of negative impact on sexuality. Radiation therapy did not lead to any significant additional problems capable of affecting the QL.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Radiation Oncology of Trento, Italy

    Maurizio Amichetti & Orazio Caffo

  2. Department of Radiation Oncology of Aviano, Italy

    Mauro Arcicasa & Mario Roncadin

  3. Department of Radiation Oncology of Padova, Italy

    Ornella Lora & Alberto Rigon

  4. Department of Radiation Oncology of Reggio Emilia, Italy

    Giampaolo Zini & Luciano Armaroli

  5. Department of Radiation Oncology of Treviso, Italy

    Francesca Coghetto & Pierluigi Zorat

  6. Department of Radiation Oncology of Bologna, Italy

    Stefanoti Neri & Nazario Teodorani

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  1. Maurizio Amichetti
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  2. Orazio Caffo
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  3. Mauro Arcicasa
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  5. Ornella Lora
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Amichetti, M., Caffo, O., Arcicasa, M. et al. Quality of life in patients with ductal carcinoma in situ of the breast treated with conservative surgery and postoperative irradiation. Breast Cancer Res Treat 54, 109–115 (1999). https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1006125602353

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