Abstract P1-12-19: Quality of life of patients with pregnancy- associated breast cancer
Authors: Bjelic-Radisic V , Hartmann B , Reisinger J , Trapp E , Benedicic C , Klaritsch P , Dunst E , Brcic I , Tamussino K 
Published: May 2019

Background: Breast cancer (BC) is the most common cancer diagnosed during pregnancy and occurs between one in 3000 to one in 10 000 pregnancies. The first international guidelines for the diagnosis and therapy of pregnancy associated BC (PABC) has been developed in 2003. The 5 year survival rate is similar to the non-pregnant women with the same stage of disease. In contrast to the data about the oncological outcome of patients with PABC, the literature about quality of life (QoL) of those patients is lacking. The aim of the study was to investigate the QoL of patients with PABC.

Materials and methods: Patients with PABC diagnosed and treated at our department in the period between 2000 and 2016 were included in the study. Clinical and demographic data were collected from the data base. The QOL was assessed using the EORTC QLQ-C30, the EORTC QLQ-BR 45 and the EORTC SHQ-22. The QoL results were compared with reference data (EORTC Reference Values) of BC patients. Statistical analysis was performed using descriptive statistics and t-test to test the significance.

Results: In the analysed period, twenty-one patients with PABC were found. In 16 patients BC had been diagnosed during the pregnancy and in 5 patients during the first year after delivery. Mean age at the time of diagnosis was 34.24 (SD±3.3), mean pregnancy week 21.14 (SD±10.28), and 8 months (SD±5.0) for patients with the diagnosis in the first year after the delivery. All patients underwent surgery, as well as chemotherapy. In addition, 10 patients received hormonal therapy and 12 irradiation.

16 patients lived at the time of the QoL assessment and received the QoL questionnaire per mail. After the mean follow up of 5.2 years, there were no statistically significant differences in EORTC QLQ C30 scales between our population and reference data except for constipation which a better score in our population. Clinical relevant differences were found in scales: physical functioning, role functioning and symptom dyspnea with the better score in our population. Our patients reported clinical relevant more financial difficulties. In the disease specific questionnaire EORTC BC 45, patients with PABC showed statistically significantly worse score in the following scales: body image, upset by hair loss, side effects of the systemic therapy and future perspective. 40% of the patients had a decreased libido and 37% of patients reported that therapy negatively impaired sexual activity. 25% of patients reported that they fill less feminine because of the disease.

Conclusion: The results revealed that QoL in patients with PABC is more impaired compared to the overall QoL reference data of BC patients. Despite the small number of patients, the results indicate that PABC patients are a vulnerable group, especially regarding outer appearance (body image, upset by hair loss, fill les feminine). The QLQ BR 45 showed more sensitivity to assess the impact on QoL of these patients than EORTC QLQ C30 and underlines the necessity to use disease-specific questionnaires in specific patient populations.

Citation Format: Bjelic-Radisic V, Hartmann B, Reisinger J, Trapp E, Benedicic C, Klaritsch P, Dunst E, Brcic I, Tamussino K. Quality of life of patients with pregnancy- associated breast cancer [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 2018 San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium; 2018 Dec 4-8; San Antonio, TX. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2019;79(4 Suppl):Abstract nr P1-12-19.