American Research Journal of Nursing

Purpose: The aim of this study was to examine if breast cancer patients’ estimated life satisfaction was affected during adjuvant endocrine treatment, if life satisfaction changed over time and if there were any differences in life satisfaction between breast cancer patients who experienced side effects from the treatment and those who did not. Material and methods: Consecutive breast cancer patients (n=68) referred for adjuvant endocrine treatment after radical breast cancer surgery at an oncology clinic were enrolled from November 2002 to August 2004. The patients scored their life satisfaction at inclusion, during treatment, and about 2 years after completing treatment. The ques tionnaire LiSat-11 was used. A report of side effects in medical records was also carried out. Comparisons, focusing on life satisfaction, between patients with and without side effects were made. Results: Of the patients in the study group 42(61.8%) had musculoskeletal symptoms noted in their medical records, 48(70.6%) reported menopausal symptoms and 40(58.5%) had psychological symptoms. At inclusion and during the treatment the study group estimated lower life satisfaction in most domains compared with a reference group. At post-treatment the study group still estimated lower life satisfaction in the domains sexual life, partner relationship, somatic and psychological health compared with a reference group. The study group estimated lower life satisfac tion at post-treatment compared to inclusion in the domains sexual life and partner relationship. In the other domains an improvement was observed when life satisfaction at post-treatment was compared with inclusion. Patients with side effects estimated lower life satisfaction in most domains compared with those that experienced no side effects Conclusion: The important findings are that the studied breast cancer patients receiving endocrine treatment esti mated their life satisfaction lower in most domains compared with the normal population already at inclusion. Dur ing the treatment, life satisfaction further deteriorated but the patients had recovered in most domains post-treatment. Notable is the deterioration in sexual life and partner relationship at post-treatment compared with inclusion. This study indicates that long-term effects of endocrine breast cancer therapy need to be further researched, with a par ticular focus on issues relating to sexuality and relationships.