Health-related quality of life among women diagnosed with in situ or invasive breast cancer and age-matched controls: a population-based study

Purpose: Health-related quality of life (HRQoL) is affected when you receive a cancer diagnosis. However, there are few comparisons of HRQoL from population-based samples of invasive breast cancer (BC)and ductal carcinoma in situ (in situ) and. We took advantage of such a data collection and investigated various aspects of HRQoL in women with invasive BC and in situ compared to age-matched BC free controls. Methods This cross-sectional study utilized data collected in 2020 from an ongoing digital survey. Cases were invited 3 weeks to 10 months after diagnosed with invasive BC (n = 1311) or in situ (n = 142) along with age-matched controls from the general population (n = 2827). HRQoL was assessed using EORTC QLQ-C30 and included scores assessing global quality of life (global HRQoL), functions and symptoms. Multivariable regression analyses were used to compare HRQoL between cases and controls and to identify factors associated with global QoL and fatigue. Results Invasive BC cases had clinically relevant (≥ 10 points) lower (worse) scores on global HRQoL, role- and social functioning in addition to more fatigue, insomnia, and appetite loss than controls. In situ cases had lower scores on role - and social functioning and more fatigue than controls. Invasive BC cases scored worse than in situ on all domains, but the differences were not considered clinically relevant. Exercise, age ≥ 50 years, drinking alcohol and not smoking were associated with better global HRQoL and less fatigue in cases and conotols. Conclusion Women with invasive BC and in situ reported lower role- and social functioning and more fatigue than controls, capturing that the diagnosis have large impact on the everyday life of these women. Exercising had a superior effect on better global HRQoL and less fatigue and should, whenever possible, play a key role in BC treatment.