Quality of life after different axillary treatments in women with breast cancer: a longitudinal cohort study

Abstract Purpose As life expectancy continues to rise, post-treatment quality of life (QoL) of breast cancer patients becomes increasingly important. This study examined the longitudinal relation between axillary treatments and QoL using the BREAST-Q and the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer QoL Questionnaire Breast Cancer Module (EORTC QLQ-BR23). Methods Women diagnosed with breast cancer who received different axillary treatments being axilla preserving surgery (APS) with or without axillary radiotherapy or full axillary lymph node dissection (ALND) with or without axillary radiotherapy were included. QoL was assessed at baseline, 6- and 12-months postoperatively. Mixed regression models were constructed to assess the impact of axillary treatment on QoL. QoL at baseline was compared to QoL at 6- and at 12-months postoperatively. Results Except for ALND with axillary radiotherapy, no significant differences in physical and psychosocial wellbeing were found. Physical wellbeing decreased significantly between baseline and 6- and 12-months postoperatively (p < 0.001, p = 0.035) and psychosocial wellbeing decreased significantly between baseline and 12 months postoperatively (p = 0.028) for ALDN with axillary radiotherapy compared to APS alone. Arm symptoms increased significantly between baseline and 6 months and between baseline and 12 months postoperatively for APS with radiotherapy (12.71, 13.73) and for ALND with radiotherapy (13.93, 16.14), with the lowest increase in arm symptoms for ALND without radiotherapy (6.85, 7.66), compared to APS alone (p < 0.05). Conclusion Physical and psychosocial wellbeing decreased significantly for ALND with radiotherapy compared to APS alone. Shared decision making and expectation management pre-treatment could be strengthened by discussing arm symptoms per axillary treatment with the patient.