Integration of QoL outcomes into breast cancer decision making
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Bridging the Age Gap: Integration of quality of life outcomes into the decision making of older women with early breast cancer
IRAS ID
293691
Contact name
Lynda Wyld
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Doncaster and Bassetlaw Teaching Hospitals
Duration of Study in the UK
1 years, 9 months, 2 days
Research summary
In the UK, breast cancer is diagnosed annually in 18,700 women over the age of 70 and causes the deaths of 6500 older women. Breast cancer specific survival is worse in older women who do not receive standard therapies (surgery, chemotherapy) which are sometimes omitted due to fears of reduced treatment tolerance, rising co-morbidity rates and increasing rates of other causes of death.
Between 2013 and 2018, our previous study, Bridging the Age Gap, recruited over 3400 older women (>70) with early breast cancer from 56 UK breast units. The study found that age, comorbidity, frailty and dementia all impacted on treatment allocation of older women, with older frailer women being offered less surgery and chemotherapy than their fitter counterparts. We also developed and evaluated the Age Gap online tool to support shared decision making in the choice between surgery or PET, or whether to have adjuvant chemotherapy or not. In our qualitative work, we found that older women valued quality of life and the maintenance of physical independence more highly than younger patients. It became apparent that decision support tools for this age group would need to include outcome prediction for not just survival, but also quality of life, physical function and independence after treatment. We therefore plan to enhance the age gap decision tool by adding in QoL outcomes and adverse events, as well as the more standard survival outcome, which it presently has.
This study will use a mixed method approach to enhance the existing Age Gap Decision Tool by integrating quality of life, functional outcomes and treatment related adverse events. The purpose is to evaluate the usability and efficacy of the Tool in supporting shared decision making in older women with early breast cancer.
REC name
North East - Tyne & Wear South Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
21/NE/0072
Date of REC Opinion
17 May 2021
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion