Chemotherapy - Induced Alopecia and Symptom Distress in Younger and Older Women with Breast Cancer: Intergroup Differences and Impact on Functional Status

摘要

The purpose of this training grant is to facilitate development of breast cancer(BC) clinical research skills, particularly related to issues relevant to older women. Scope: The research training program encompasses didactic coursework, secondary analysis, and dissertation research within the doctoral program at the School of Nursing, and intensive mentored clinical research training at the Abramson Cancer Center, both at the University of Pennsylvania. Major findings: A secondary analysis was conducted to longitudinally compare symptom distress and functional status in older (n=26) versus younger (n=163) women receiving 4-8 cycles of adjuvant BC chemotherapy. Older women trended towards greater declines in functional status from baseline to cycle 4. Age, baseline functional status, and coincident change in symptom distress together explained 55.9% of the variance in functional status change between cycle 1 and 4.