Differences in quality of life and emotional well-being in breast, colon, and lung cancer patients during outpatient adjuvant chemotherapy: a longitudinal study

Adjuvant chemotherapy used at each cancer site may affect quality of life (QoL) and emotional well-being (affect) of cancer patients differently; however, these differences between groups have not been studied.

Objectives. The aim of this study was to assess differences in QoL and affect by cancer site at the start of outpatient adjuvant chemotherapy, whether QoL and affect change during this treatment, and whether adverse effects influence these variables.

Methods. A multicenter longitudinal descriptive study was conducted with 247 participants with breast, colon, or lung cancer at the beginning (T1) and end of treatment (T2). We used the SF-12 Health Survey, Positive and Negative Affect Scale, and an ¿ad hoc¿ adverse effects questionnaire.

Results. At the start of chemotherapy, the lung group had poorer Physical Component Summary and poorer positive and negative affect (P < .05) scores. In the end-of-treatment comparisons, breast and colon cancer patients¿ status had worsened, whereas lung cancer patients had tended to stabilize, although they remained the most vulnerable. Adverse effect severity was significant for Physical Component Summary (r = -0.13, P = .035), with decreases in positive affect (r = -0.17, β= -.16) and increases in negative affect (r = 0.15, β= .14).

Conclusions. Changes in QoL and emotional state differ between groups, implying a need for varying levels of follow-up and emotional support. Patients with lung cancer seem particularly vulnerable.

Implications for Practice Cancer nurses could strengthen the assessment of patients undergoing chemotherapy using more sensitive instruments such as the Positive and Negative Affect Scale and considering differences by cancer site, to provide care tailored to individual patient needs and preferences.