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Cognitive Function of Older Patients Receiving Adjuvant Chemotherapy for Breast Cancer: A Pilot Prospective Longitudinal Study.
- Source :
- Journal of the American Geriatrics Society; Jun2006, Vol. 54 Issue 6, p925-931, 7p, 3 Charts
- Publication Year :
- 2006
-
Abstract
- OBJECTIVES: To report on the longitudinal cognitive functioning of older women receiving adjuvant chemotherapy for breast cancer. DESIGN: Neuropsychological and functional status testing were performed before chemotherapy and 6 months after chemotherapy. SETTING: Cancer center. PARTICIPANTS: Thirty-one patients aged 65 and older with Stage I to III breast cancer. Of the 31 patients enrolled, three refused posttesting, and 28 were evaluable. MEASUREMENTS: The following domains of cognitive function were examined: attention; verbal memory; visual memory; and verbal, spatial, psychomotor, and executive functions. RESULTS: Participants had a mean age of 71 (range 65–84): 39% Stage I, 50% Stage II, and 11% Stage III. The number of scores 2 standard deviations (SDs) below the norm were calculated for each patient before and 6 months after chemotherapy; 14 (50%) had no change, 11 (39%) worsened, and three (11%) improved ( P=.05). Seven patients (25%) experienced a decline in cognitive function, defined as a 1-SD decline from pre- to posttesting in two or more neuropsychological domains. Exploratory analyses revealed no significant difference between functional status, comorbidity, and depression scale scores and change in overall quality-of-life scores before and after chemotherapy. CONCLUSION: In this cohort of older women receiving adjuvant chemotherapy, a subset experienced a decline in cognitive function from before chemotherapy to 6 months after chemotherapy. Further prospective study is needed to confirm these observations and to identify the subgroup at special risk. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
Details
- Language :
- English
- ISSN :
- 00028614
- Volume :
- 54
- Issue :
- 6
- Database :
- Complementary Index
- Journal :
- Journal of the American Geriatrics Society
- Publication Type :
- Academic Journal
- Accession number :
- 21053113
- Full Text :
- https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1532-5415.2006.00732.x