Development of Distress During a Radiotherapy Course in Patients Irradiated for Breast Cancer.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND/AIM: Breast cancer patients receiving radiation therapy (RT) may experience considerable distress. We investigated the course of distress during an RT-course for breast cancer. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Three-hundred-and-thirty breast cancer patients completed Distress Thermometers before and directly after RT. Distress was evaluated in the entire cohort and different groups of age, sex, Karnofsky performance score (KPS), intent of RT, and previous RT. RESULTS: Mean change of distress scores was - 0.4 points, which was significantly associated with KPS. Decrease of distress was more pronounced in patients with KPS ≤80 or age <64 years. Deterioration (yes vs. no) was non-significantly associated with no previous RT. In patients with pre-RT distress scores ≤5 points, mean score increased by +0.5 points; no significant associations between characteristics and investigated endpoints were found. CONCLUSION: Psychological assistance should be offered to all patients irradiated for breast cancer, particularly to those with risk factors, regardless of the pre-RT distress score.