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Erschienen in:
01.07.2011 | Gynecologic Oncology
Quality of life and toxicity in breast cancer patients using adjuvant TAC (docetaxel, doxorubicin, cyclophosphamide), in comparison with FAC (doxorubicin, cyclophosphamide, 5-fluorouracil)
Erschienen in: Archives of Gynecology and Obstetrics | Ausgabe 1/2011
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Objectives
The aim of this study was to compare two regimens of chemotherapy in patients with breast cancer, including FAC (doxorubicin, cyclophosphamide, and 5-fluorouracil) and TAC (docetaxel, doxorubicin and cyclophosphamide); and analyze the toxicity of these treatments and observe patient’s health-related quality of life.
Methods
Health-related quality of life was assessed for up to 4 months (from the beginning to the end of chemotherapy cycles), using European organization and cancer treatment quality of life questionnaire (EORTC) QLQ-C30. A group of 100 patients, with node-positive breast cancer were studied in order to compare the toxicity of adjuvant therapy TAC with FAC and the subsequent effects on the patient’s quality of life.
Results
After a 4-month follow-up of patients, our findings showed that despite having the same mean score of QOL at the start of adjuvant chemotherapy, the QOL in TAC arm was decreased more as a result of the higher range of toxicity in TAC regimen.
Conclusion
In spite of increase in disease-free patients who received TAC regimen and increase their survival rate, there is significant toxicity and decrease in QOL in TAC protocol compare to FAC protocol. Using prophylactic granulocyte colony stimulating factor (G-CSF) along with increased education aimed at improving patient’s knowledge and also the provision of a supportive group involving psychiatrics and patients that have successfully experienced the same treatment may be helpful.