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Weight changes during chemotherapy for breast cancer
Luciano José Megale Costa1, Paulo César Spotti Varella, Auro del Giglio
1Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de São Paulo, Brazil.
Sao Paulo Medical Journal = Revista Paulista De Medicina
|November 19, 2002
Summary
Breast cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy often gain weight, particularly those receiving adjuvant or neoadjuvant treatments. Metastatic patients may lose weight, but weight changes did not significantly impact survival outcomes in this study.
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Clinical Research
- Cancer Therapeutics
Background:
- Patients undergoing chemotherapy for breast cancer frequently experience weight changes.
- The factors influencing these weight fluctuations and their prognostic implications are not fully understood.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate weight changes during chemotherapy in breast cancer patients.
- To identify factors associated with weight change and assess its prognostic significance.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective cohort study of 106 breast cancer patients.
- Data collected included body weights before and during chemotherapy (neoadjuvant, adjuvant, palliative).
- Analysis focused on percentage of body weight change per month and correlation with clinical data and survival.
Main Results:
- A mean weight gain of 0.50% per month was observed overall.
- Adjuvant/neoadjuvant chemotherapy patients gained weight (0.91%/month), while metastatic patients lost weight (-0.52%/month).
- A negative correlation was found between metastatic disease and weight gain (r = -0.447, p < 0.0001).
Conclusions:
- Weight gain is common in breast cancer patients receiving adjuvant or neoadjuvant chemotherapy.
- Weight loss is more likely in patients undergoing palliative chemotherapy for metastatic disease.
- The prognostic significance of chemotherapy-induced weight changes requires further investigation.