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Survey on adverse events associated with drug therapy for breast cancer patients
Fumikata Hara1, Reiko Nagasaki2, Reiko Minami3
1The Cancer Institute Hospital Of JFCR, 3-8-31 Ariake, Koto-ku, Tokyo, Japan. fumikatahara@gmail.com.
Background:
In the breast cancer treatment, there may be a gap between patients' information needs and physicians' perceptions. To address this issue, we conducted a comprehensive questionnaire survey aimed to assess the specific information needs of patients regarding the adverse events (AEs) associated with treatment.
Methods:
A web-based questionnaire survey (UMIN000049280: Registered on October 31, 2022) was conducted in patients with a history of breast cancer treatment. Responses were obtained regarding AEs experienced, AEs for which remedies were identified, AEs patients sought to prevent, and pre-treatment information on AEs patients desired to have.
Results:
Data from 435 breast cancer patients were analyzed. The most common AEs reported included hair loss (93.3%), malaise/fatigue (89.4%), nail changes (83.2%), dysgeusia (69.0%), leukopenia/white blood cell decreased (65.1%), neuropathy (62.3%), and nausea/vomiting (61.4%). Financial anxiety was reported in 35.2% of the participants. AEs for which a minority of patients found effective solutions included neuropathy (20.3%), financial anxiety (21.6%), edema (24.3%), joint pain (26.0%), and malaise/fatigue (26.7%). Patients expressed the greatest desire to avoid hair loss (34.7%), followed by nausea/vomiting (23.7%), interstitial lung disease/pneumonitis (5.5%), malaise/fatigue (5.1%), and dysgeusia (5.1%). The most commonly requested pre-treatment information regarding AEs was their duration, followed by prevention methods, management strategies, time to onset, and the impact on daily life.
Conclusions:
This survey highlights the existence of significant unmet medical needs among breast cancer patients, due to the inadequate solutions available for managing AEs associated with various therapeutic agents. In addition, the survey revealed that patients have different information needs regarding different types of AEs.
Insights
Breast cancer patients report significant unmet needs for managing treatment side effects, with a desire for more information on preventing and treating adverse events like hair loss and fatigue.
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Patient-Reported Outcomes
- Cancer Therapeutics
Background:
- A gap exists between breast cancer patients' information needs and physicians' perceptions regarding treatment-related adverse events (AEs).
- Understanding patient priorities for AE information is crucial for improving care and support.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess the specific information needs of breast cancer patients concerning AEs associated with their treatment.
- To identify patient-desired information on AE prevention, management, and desired pre-treatment knowledge.
Main Methods:
- A web-based questionnaire survey was conducted among 435 patients with a history of breast cancer treatment.
- Data collected included experienced AEs, availability of remedies, AEs patients wished to prevent, and desired pre-treatment AE information.
Main Results:
- Common AEs included hair loss (93.3%), fatigue (89.4%), and nail changes (83.2%).
- Effective solutions were lacking for neuropathy (20.3%), financial anxiety (21.6%), and edema (24.3%).
- Patients most wanted to avoid hair loss (34.7%) and nausea/vomiting (23.7%), and desired information on AE duration, prevention, and management.
Conclusions:
- Significant unmet medical needs exist due to inadequate AE management solutions for breast cancer patients.
- Patient information needs vary depending on the specific AE, highlighting a need for personalized communication strategies.
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