ADJUVANT CHEMOTHERAPY WITH MITOXANTRONE C YCLOPHOSPHAMIDE AND 5-FLUOROURACIL IN BREAST-CANCER - PATIENTS EXPERIENCE

The chemotherapy side-effects are insufficiently documented while they strongly condition patients quality of life. The aim of the study was to assess by means of a self-administered questionnaire the somatic s ymptoms experienced by breast cancer patients during their NCF (mitoxa ntrone + cyclophosphamide + 5-fluorouracil) chemotherapy and to demons trate the interest of this self-report by comparing the frequency of s ide effects assessed by the patients to that noted by the physicians i n medical record. The study tons carried out among 44 patients receivi ng their chemotherapy + radiotherapy at the Paoli-Calmettes Institute (Marseille) between July 1994 and May 1995. The questionnaire comprize d of 17 symptoms evaluated in terms of frequently, duration/severity a nd distress. The most frequent symptoms are: hair loss and nausea (75% ), hot flush (57%), lack of appetite and headache (46%) associated wit h distress in 67 to 100% of cases. Their frequency was underestimated by the physicians in medical record. This study showed a large discord ance patient-physician in the assessment of chemotherapy side-effects. The type of tool presented in this study could complement the usual s cales of toxicity that do not provide an estimation of true patients' experience.