Emotional and functional well-being in long-term breast cancer survivorship

Purpose

Emotional and functional well-being (EWB and FWB) are important components of mental health and quality of life. This study aims to evaluate long-term EWB and FWB in breast cancer (BC) survivors.

Methods

The Carolina Breast Cancer Study Phase 3 oversampled Black and younger (< 50 years in age) women so that they each represent approximately 50% of the study population and assessed participants’ EWB and FWB with the Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy—Breast (FACT-B) at 5- (baseline), 25-, and 84-months post diagnosis. Multinomial logit models were used to estimate adjusted odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for associations between demographic and clinical characteristics and well-being change relative to baseline.

Results

Among 2,781 participants with BC, average EWB and FWB improved with time since diagnosis. Persistent FWB decrements were associated with Black race [OR 1.4 (95% CI 1.2–1.7) and 1.3 (95% CI 1.1–1.6), at 25-months and 84-months respectively], older age [OR 1.4 (95% CI 1.1–1.7) and 1.5 (95% CI 1.2–1.8), respectively], no chemotherapy, and recurrence [OR 2.9 (95% CI 1.8–4.8) and 3.1 (95% CI 2.1–4.6), respectively]. EWB decrements were associated with advanced stage and recurrence. Decrements in combined (FWB+EWB) well-being were associated with recurrence at both follow-up survey timepoints [ORs 4.7 (95% CI 2.7–8.0) and 4.3 (95% CI 2.8–6.6), respectively].

Conclusions

Long-term well-being varies by demographics and clinical features, with Black women and women with aggressive disease at greatest risk of long-term decrements.