Background
Early-stage breast cancer survivors (BCS) report high symptom burden following cancer treatment. Here we evaluate the symptoms reported by BCS compared to female survivors of ‘other’ tumour types attending their initial visit at the Sydney Cancer Survivorship Centre (SCSC) multidisciplinary team clinic.
Methods:
SCSC survivors complete patient-reported outcome measures (Patient’s Disease and Treatment Assessment form) to rate symptoms (Likert scale) affecting them in the month prior to their initial review. Comparison was made between symptoms of BCS and other female cancer survivors at initial visit. Simple descriptive statistical methods were used.
Results:
Overall, 1038 survivors attended SCSC from September 2013 to December 2024 and 988 consented to use of their data. Of these, 68% were female; 367 female BCS (37%) and 307 (29%) female survivors had ‘other’ cancers (colorectal, lung, upper gastrointestinal, haematological, others). BCS were significantly younger than 'other' female cancer survivors (53 vs 59yrs, p<0.001). In both groups 89% received chemotherapy as part of their neo/adjuvant treatment.
BCS had higher rates of symptoms of at least moderate severity compared to women with 'other' cancers: fatigue 61% vs 49%, (p=0.006); sleep disturbance 53% vs 33%, (p<0.001); anxiety 48% vs 31%, (p<0.001); pain 45% vs 33%, (p=0.002). Whilst numbness was commonly reported in both groups, 39% vs 31%, it was one of the top 5 most commonly reported symptoms in ‘other’ survivors compared to BCS. Hot flushes were one of the top 5 most commonly reported symptoms in breast cancer 48% vs 18%.
Conclusion:
Four of the top five symptoms reported by female cancer survivors are common across all cancer types. Women with breast cancer self-reported higher rates of the most commonly reported symptoms than women with other cancers. Further research to design interventions that address these symptoms in all cancer survivors will likely also benefit BCS.