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Ending treatment: the course of emotional adjustment and quality of life among breast cancer survivors immediately following radiation therapy

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Abstract

Goal of work

This study investigated changes in psychological adjustment and quality of life among breast cancer patients following completion of radiation therapy.

Patients and methods

Ninety-four patients completed measures of depressed mood, anxiety, and quality of life via interview at five time points: the end of radiation therapy, 2 weeks posttreatment, the first radiation oncology follow-up appointment (4–6 weeks after treatment), 3 months posttreatment, and 6 months posttreatment.

Main results

At the conclusion of radiation treatment, participants reported elevated levels of depression, low levels of anxiety, and diminished quality of life. By 2 weeks posttreatment, depression decreased significantly and overall quality of life improved significantly, as well as quality of life in the specific FACT-B domains of Physical and Functional Well Being and the Breast Cancer Subscale. Following that time, the only significant change involved further improvement in breast-cancer-specific concerns.

Conclusions

Results suggest that the primary psychological changes associated with ending breast cancer treatment occur quickly following the conclusion of treatment. Thereafter, psychological status appears to stabilize. The implications of these findings for treatment and directions for future research are discussed.

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Acknowledgements

This study was sponsored by the Alvin J. Siteman Cancer Center Research Development Grant Award.

We wish to acknowledge the researchers and staff who contributed to the ACT Project. We are particularly grateful to the staff in Radiation Oncology for their support of this project. Finally, we thank the women who participated in this study and taught us so much.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Alvin J. Siteman Cancer Center, Barnes-Jewish Hospital and Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA

    Teresa Deshields, Tiffany Tibbs, Marie Taylor & Edwin Fisher

  2. Department of Psychiatry, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA

    Tiffany Tibbs

  3. Department of Medicine, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA

    Tiffany Tibbs & Edwin Fisher

  4. Department of Psychology, Washington University, St. Louis, MO, USA

    Tiffany Tibbs & Edwin Fisher

  5. Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA

    Ming-Yu Fan

  6. Comprehensive Neuropsychological Services, Cheshire, CT, USA

    Laura Bayer

  7. Department of Radiation Oncology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA

    Marie Taylor

  8. Siteman Cancer Center, Mail-stop: 90-35-703, 4921 Parkview Place, St. Louis, MO, 63110, USA

    Teresa Deshields

Authors
  1. Teresa Deshields
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  2. Tiffany Tibbs
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  3. Ming-Yu Fan
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  4. Laura Bayer
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  5. Marie Taylor
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  6. Edwin Fisher
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Teresa Deshields.

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Deshields, T., Tibbs, T., Fan, MY. et al. Ending treatment: the course of emotional adjustment and quality of life among breast cancer survivors immediately following radiation therapy. Support Care Cancer 13, 1018–1026 (2005). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00520-005-0801-z

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00520-005-0801-z

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