Majority of women affected by physical changes during breast cancer treatment

The majority of women reported that changes to their physical appearance during treatment for breast cancer affected their self-esteem, according to survey results presented at the Oncology Nursing Society Annual Congress.

“Women do very much care about hair loss and appearance during therapy for metastatic breast cancer, and would prefer to favor regimens where their appearance can be preserved as much as possible,” Adam M. Brufsky, MD, PhD, associate chief of the division of hematology/oncology and co-director of the Comprehensive Breast Cancer Center at University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, as well as a HemOnc Today Editorial Board member, told HemOnc Today. “Practitioners should take women’s feelings about appearance into account when deciding on therapeutic regimens for metastatic breast cancer when several near equivalent therapeutic options are available.”

Adam M. Brufsky

Although treatment-related side effects can negatively impact quality of life, better communication between the patient and their oncology providers may alleviate these effects of treatment.

Brufsky, Lisa Tamis-Bieder, RN, BSN, OCN, medical oncology nurse of ProHEALTH Care Associates in Lake Success, New York, and colleagues conducted the “Make Your Own Dialogue Count” survey to investigate the importance of physical appearance among women with metastatic breast cancer and the impact adverse events can have on physical appearance.

The analysis included data from 359 women aged 21 years or older (median age, 53 years) with metastatic breast cancer who completed the survey between June and August 2014.

Ninety-six percent of all women who received treatment for metastatic breast cancer experienced a treatment-related adverse event, the most common of which was hair loss (74%).

Fifty-six percent of women reported that overall physical appearance was either “important” or “very important” to their self-esteem while receiving treatment.

When researchers evaluated data by age, a greater proportion of women aged 21 to 44 years reported their physical appearance was important or very important (65%), compared with women aged 45 to 59 years (51%) or 60 years and older (53%).

Most patients considered hair, weight, complexion, and clothing important aspects of self-esteem while receiving treatment.

Women in the younger group reported most aspects of physical appearance were important or very important. These women were significantly more likely than their older counterparts to say they were confused about the changes happening to their body, that they felt less like a woman and that cancer had stolen their dignity.

“By being sensitive to and understanding patient needs during treatment, nurses can proactively encourage communication and provide education that can positively affect the patient experience throughout the treatment course,” the researchers wrote. “Nurses play a critical role in discussions concerning side effects, including measures to prevent or minimize side effects. Proactive discussion of side effects should occur at each visit and should involve spouses or significant others who provide much-needed emotional support at this time.” – by Nick Andrews

Reference:

Tamis-Bieder L, et al. Presented at: ONS Annual Congress; April 28-May 1, 2016; San Antonio, Texas.

Disclos ure: The study was funded in part by Novartis.