Introduction: Quality of life (QoL) is an essential outcome measure in breast cancer management, particularly during and after radiotherapy. Breast cancer patients often experience significant physical and emotional stress due to the disease and its treatment.
Tangential beam radiotherapy (TBRT), commonly employed in adjuvant settings, can influence QoL due to treatment-related symptoms. The EORTC QLQ-C30 and breast-specific BR-23 modules are validated tools to assess QoL changes over time in these patients.
Aims and Objectives:To evaluate the impact of tangential beam radiotherapy on the quality of life in breast cancer patients using the EORTC QLQ-BR23 questionnaire at baseline, one month,three months, and six months following radiotherapy.
Materials and Methods:This prospective observational study included 30 patients with histologically
confirmed early breast carcinoma scheduled for adjuvant radiotherapy.
Inclusion Criteria:
Histopathologically proven early-stage breast carcinoma
Indication for adjuvant radiotherapy
ECOG performance status 0 or 1
Age >18 years
Exclusion Criteria:
Locally advanced or metastatic breast cancer
Presence of concomitant morbid conditions contraindicating radiotherapy
Serum creatinine or liver enzymes more than twice the normal value
Radiotherapy Details:
Patients received 40 Gy in 15 fractions over 3 weeks to the whole
breast/chest wall using tangential beam radiotherapy.
Clinical Target Volume (CTV) included the remaining breast or chest wall as
per RTOG guidelines, with contouring of organs at risk including lungs, heart,
and contralateral breast.
QoL Assessment:
QoL was evaluated using the EORTC QLQ-C30 and BR-23 questionnaires.
Assessments were conducted at:
o Baseline (pre-radiotherapy)
o 1 month post-radiotherapy
o 3 months post-radiotherapy
o 6 months post-radiotherapy
Raw scores were converted to functional and symptom scales for analysis.
Results:Functional QoL scores were highest at baseline and declined significantly at one month post-radiotherapy, indicating increased treatment burden. Symptom scores,particularly related to breast discomfort, fatigue, and arm symptoms, peaked during treatment but gradually improved by the 3rd and 6th-month follow-ups. Emotional functioning and body image showed progressive improvement over time.
Conclusion:Radiotherapy leads to a temporary decline in quality of life in breast cancer patients,with most domains recovering over a 6-month period. Continuous psychological support and proactive symptom management are crucial to enhance recovery and overall well-being.
