Abstract
BACKGROUND: In the BIG 1-98 trial objective cognitive function improved in postmenopausal women 1 year after cessation of adjuvant endocrine therapy for breast cancer. This report evaluates changes in subjective cognitive function (SCF).
METHODS: One hundred postmenopausal women, randomised to receive 5 years of adjuvant tamoxifen, letrozole, or a sequence of the two, completed self-reported measures on SCF, psychological distress, fatigue, and quality of life during the fifth year of trial treatment (year 5) and 1 year after treatment completion (year 6). Changes between years 5 and 6 were evaluated using the Wilcoxon signed-rank test. Subjective cognitive function and its correlates were explored.
RESULTS: Subjective cognitive function and the other patient-reported outcomes did not change significantly after cessation of endocrine therapy with the exception of improvement for hot flushes (P = 0.0005). No difference in changes was found between women taking tamoxifen or letrozole. Subjective cognitive function was the only psychosocial outcome with a substantial correlation between year 5 and 6 (Spearman's R = 0.80). Correlations between SCF and the other patient-reported outcomes were generally low.
CONCLUSION: Improved objective cognitive function but not SCF occur following cessation of adjuvant endocrine therapy in the BIG 1-98 trial. The substantial correlation of SCF scores over time may represent a stable attribute. British Journal of Cancer (2012) 106, 1618-1625. doi:10.1038/bjc.2012.156 www.bjcancer.com Published online 24 April 2012 (C) 2012 Cancer Research UK
Original language | English |
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Pages (from-to) | 1618-1625 |
Number of pages | 8 |
Journal | British Journal of Cancer |
Volume | 106 |
Issue number | 10 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - 2012 |