Health-Related Quality of Life in Women With Breast Cancer Undergoing Treatment With Hormonal Therapy - A Review...

This review aimed to analyze the significance and impact of health-related quality of life (QoL) in women with breast cancer undergoing treatment with hormonal therapy. This study developed a comprehensive, structured, systematic search strategy to identify literature related to health and QoL in breast cancer patients undergoing treatment with hormonal therapy. The search was conducted for published literature indexed in PubMed (Medline), Cancer Lit, CINAHL, Google Scholar, and Web of Science between 2010 and 2020. Patients associated with the study of QoL reported some difficulties in terms of depression, anxiety, chronic fatigue, sleep problems, pain, sexual dysfunction and sleep disorders. Endocrine-related symptoms did not fluctuate between interventions and remained unchanged in all groups. The evaluation of FACT-G scores (physical well-being subscale) showed statistically significant differences among participants receiving anastrozole versus tamoxifen and exemestane. It can be concluded that the QoL of postmenopausal women with breast cancer is affected by the long-term use of adjuvant endocrine therapy, with difference reported associated with the different therapies. However, further efforts are required to improve QoL instruments and the quantitative evaluation of QoL data for patients receiving adjuvant ET.