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The impact of chemotherapy for breast cancer on sexual function and health-related quality of life

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Abstract

Purpose

In this prospective trial, we evaluated the influence of chemotherapy for breast cancer on women’s health-related quality of life (HR-QoL), sexual function, and mental status.

Methods

The patients completed validated questionnaires on HR-QoL, sexual function, and depression before, during, and at the end and finally 6 months after chemotherapy. Special attention was paid to possible differences between pre- and postmenopausal patients.

Results

Between 2008 and 2012, 79 patients were enrolled in the trial (mean age 47.46 years). Premenopausal participants were 63.3 %. Sexual activity dropped from 71.9 % before chemotherapy to a minimum of 47 % at the end of chemotherapy. A similar effect was seen for pleasure and discomfort. Depression values were the highest at the beginning of chemotherapy, with spontaneous improvement in many patients during the course of time. HR-QoL and global health status both increased 6 months after therapy. For almost all parameters, changes were more obvious in pre- than in postmenopausal patients.

Conclusions

In a close monitoring, we observed significant changes in HR-QoL, depression, and sexual function in breast cancer patients. Special attention needs to be paid to premenopausal patients. The knowledge of effective recovery and spontaneous improvement of HR-QoL in spite of still impaired sexuality are important information in counseling both pre- and postmenopausal patients with diagnosis of breast cancer prior to upcoming therapy.

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Abbreviations

HR-QoL:

Health-related quality of life

EORTC:

European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer

SAQ:

Sexual Activity Questionnaire

FSFI:

Female Sexual Function Index questionnaire

ADS:

Allgemeine Depressionsskala

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Acknowledgments

We thank Mr. A. Allignol, Clinical Trials Unit, for the statistical analysis. We thank Mrs. A. Warnke-Kockrow, for data acquisition.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, University Medical Center Freiburg, Hugstetterstr. 55, 79106, Freiburg, Germany

    Juliane Farthmann, J. Veit, B. Rautenberg, T. Erbes & A. Hasenburg

  2. Centre of Gynecological Endocrinology and Reproductive Medicine Freiburg (CERF), Freiburg, Germany

    A. Hanjalic-Beck

  3. Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, University Medical Hospital Aachen, Aachen, Germany

    E. Stickeler

  4. Foeldiklinik, Hinterzarten, Germany

    M. Földi

Authors
  1. Juliane Farthmann
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  2. A. Hanjalic-Beck
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  3. J. Veit
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  4. B. Rautenberg
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  5. E. Stickeler
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  6. T. Erbes
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  7. M. Földi
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  8. A. Hasenburg
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Juliane Farthmann.

Additional information

Juliane Farthmann and A. Hanjalic-Beck contributed equally to this work.

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Farthmann, J., Hanjalic-Beck, A., Veit, J. et al. The impact of chemotherapy for breast cancer on sexual function and health-related quality of life. Support Care Cancer 24, 2603–2609 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00520-015-3073-2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00520-015-3073-2

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