PURPOSE Adjuvant endocrine therapy (ET) in breast cancer reduces recurrence risk and increases overall survival. The aim of the study was to quantify non-adherence and discontinuation to ET in postmenopausal… Click to show full abstract
PURPOSE Adjuvant endocrine therapy (ET) in breast cancer reduces recurrence risk and increases overall survival. The aim of the study was to quantify non-adherence and discontinuation to ET in postmenopausal women with breast cancer, and identify possible clinical or social risk factors. METHODS Women with hormone-receptor positive breast cancer (N = 138), mean age 58 (SD 9.3) years, filled in 4 questionnaires within 1-12, 24, 36 and 48-60 months after surgery; Subjective Health Complaints Inventory (SHC), Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy-Social Support Subscale (FACT-ES), and Quality of Patient Information Questionnaire (QPI). Adherence to Tamoxifen (Tam) or Aromatase Inhibitors (AI) was examined using self-reported adherence and data from the Norwegian Prescription Database (NorPD) [corrected]. Kaplan-Meier curves and Cox proportional hazards regression models estimated adherence to ET. RESULTS The estimate of discontinued ET within 60 months was 38%. Self-reported discontinuation was 7% compared with 25% from the NorPD. Being overweight or obese were significantly time dependent factors predictive for discontinuing ET, p = 0.025. CONCLUSION Closer follow-ups, tailor-made information about the proven benefits of ET, and keeping a normal body mass index (BMI) may improve adherence to ET in postmenopausal women with breast cancer.
               
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