Measurement of quality of life in advanced breast cancer

Before the twentieth century the treatment of advanced breast cancer comprised either willful neglect or futile mastectomy. Recent years have seen the introduction of therapies capable of shrinking disease volume although the concept of a cure still remains remote. Many of these treatments are unpleasant and the burden they force the patient to bear may not be compensated by the reduction in tumour size. Decisions on the value of initiating or continuing such treatment have been taken by the clinician largely since no suitable instruments have been available to measure individual 'quality of life'. Several means have now evolved and in advanced breast cancer, where the treatment may profoundly affect the patient's sense of wellbeing, effort is being made to find out how much.