Health-related quality of life associated with different cancer treatments in Chinese breast cancer survivors in Taiwan

We assessed the quality of life (QoL) associated with patient's characteristics and different cancer treatments among Chinese breast cancer survivors in Taiwan. A cross-sectional survey was conducted in 2017 where 193 patients with hormone receptor-positive/human epidermal growth factor receptor-2-negative metastatic breast cancer were recruited. Three QoL questionnaires were administered: European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Questionnaire (EORTC QLQ-C30), its breast cancer supplementary measure (QLQ-BR23) and EQ-5D-5L. Multiple linear regression was performed to assess the association between QoL and cancer treatments, with adjustment for patient's characteristics. The mean age of study participants was 55.52 years. Simple linear regression showed that cancer stage and receiving chemotherapy were significantly associated with QoL scores (p < 0.05). Significant adverse effects of chemotherapy on QoL were found among early-stage cancer women (i.e., I or II), including poor cognitive and sexual functioning, and a higher symptom burden (i.e., dyspnoea, constipation, systematic therapy side effects). Multiple linear regression also revealed that receiving chemotherapy was significantly associated with poor QoL (e.g., lower functional health and higher symptom burden measured by the QLQ-BR23), compared to none chemotherapy (p < 0.05). Receiving chemotherapy was associated with poor QoL, especially among early-stage breast cancer patients.