QUALITY-OF-LIFE RESEARCH IN PATIENTS WITH BREAST-CANCER

Quality-of-life evaluation has gained increasing attention within the oncology community over the past 2 decades. The breadth of quality-of- life research in women with breast cancer has expanded substantially d uring this time. This paper reviews the status of quality-of-life rese arch in women with breast cancer and explores several areas in which q uality-of-life research can be of value. Descriptive quality-of-life s tudies in patients undergoing active treatment can identify the impact breast cancer treatment has on a patient's life. For patients who hav e completed treatment, research can detect areas of persistent distres s. Quality-of-life assessment now is incorporated in many clinical tri als. These data can provide a patient-rated assessment of treatment an d complement the traditional endpoints in clinical trials. Examples of selected quality-of-life studies in patients with breast cancer are p resented.