Quality of life in women with advanced breast cancer treated with docetaxel

A survey was conducted to address the question of whether overall quality of life (QOL) in women with advanced breast cancer is significantly impaired by treatment with docetaxel in routine clinical practice. Health-related QOL (HRQOL) measured by the European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer QOL Questionnaire C30, as well as performance status (PS) and tumor response, were assessed at baseline, then after every 2 cycles of treatment. The 209 evaluable patients received a median of 5 treatment cycles (range, 2-9), with a response rate of 35% (95% CI, 28.5%-41.4%). There were significant adverse changes in fatigue (P = 0.002) and diarrhea (P = 0.0002). However, HRQOL scores for emotional function (P < 0.0001), pain (P = 0.0001), constipation (P = 0.01), and nausea and vomiting (P = 0.03) all showed significant beneficial changes. Several QOL parameters improved during docetaxel therapy even in patients who did not have an objective tumor response. Overall, PS was maintained during docetaxel treatment. Following the encouraging QOL data from clinical trials of docetaxel in breast cancer, the authors conclude that, in actual clinical practice, docetaxel does not have an overall detrimental effect on QOL.