Patient-reported distress screening outcomes in breast cancer.

Authors

null

Bridget Smart

Mayo Clinic, Jacksonville, FL

Bridget Smart , Laura Vallow , Laeticia Hollant , Megan Single , Katherine Gaines , Jacob Habboush , Heather Biers , Atiya Day , Katherine S. Tzou , Robert Clell Miller

Organizations

Mayo Clinic, Jacksonville, FL

Research Funding

No funding sources reported

Background: A significant percentage of cancer patients experience psychosocial distress with the highest prevalence observed in breast cancer patients. The importance of psychosocial distress screening and assessment in women with breast cancer has clearly been established. Patients in our clinic are screened for distress. The results were reviewed in an attempt to better understand the psychosocial distress of breast cancer patients undergoing radiotherapy. Methods: Patients treated curatively for breast cancer prospectively completed the 30 question patient reported distress (PRD) survey that also included a linear analog measure of overall distress. The recorded clinical results of the PRD survey were retrospectively assessed in patients receiving breast radiotherapy from June 1, 2013 to February 2, 2015. Results: Completed PRD questionnaires were available on 179 female patients. 21 (12%) were treated for ductal carcinoma in situ and 91 (51%), 35 (20%), and 32 (18%) were treated for invasive carcinoma Stages I, II, and III. 85 (47%) received chemotherapy. Overall distress ranged from 0 to 10, with a median value of 5. Mean distress scores per category ranged from a low of 1.25 to a high of 2.52. Top concerns in descending order of importance were: “How will I feel during treatment” (2.52), “Fatigue” (2.46), “Sleep difficulties” (2.32), “How will I feel about appearance related to treatment” (2.23), & “Pain that affects daily functioning” (2.19). Least distressing symptoms “Spirituality” (1.25), “Housing during treatment” (1.26), “Control of anger” (1.28), “End of life concerns” (1.32), & “Transportation” (1.34). Conclusions: Distress over tumor related issues ranked low among women’s concerns in comparison to distress related to the side effects of therapy concerning treatment related discomfort, fatigue, and changes in appearance, and anxiety. Pain was a significant concern, although in this group of patients receiving definitive, adjuvant or neoadjuvant therapy, this was likely related to treatment associated discomfort rather than from disease progression. These findings highlight the importance of careful patient education and communication of the expected symptoms and effects of therapy.

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Abstract Details

Meeting

2015 Breast Cancer Symposium

Session Type

Poster Session

Session Title

Poster Session B: Systemic Therapy, Survivorship, and Health Policy

Track

Systemic Therapy,Local/Regional Therapy,Survivorship and Health Policy

Sub Track

Patient Reported Outcomes

Citation

J Clin Oncol 33, 2015 (suppl 28S; abstr 79)

DOI

10.1200/jco.2015.33.28_suppl.79

Abstract #

79

Poster Bd #

B6

Abstract Disclosures

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