Breast cancer patients’ quality of life: Real-world data

Background CareAcross is a digital platform dedicated to support, inform and engage with cancer patients. It also collects medical and other data, and generates real world evidence. Methods In an effort to collect and analyze information from breast cancer patients regarding side effects in relation to their treatments and supplements intake, we contacted 5373 patients in the UK, Germany, France, Spain and Italy. 547 had triple negative breast cancer (TNBC) and the remaining 4826 had other breast cancer subtypes (non-TNBC). All data was collected anonymously, with strong privacy and security controls. Results Different regimens were given as adjuvant or as systemic treatments. AC treatment was given to 10% of TNBC vs 5% of non-TNBC patients; FEC-T to 18% vs 11%, FEC to 9% vs 7%, taxanes to 39% vs 22% and platinum-based chemotherapy to 14% vs 2%, respectively. Among non-TNBC patients, 12% received Trastuzumab and 52% received hormonal treatment. Some of the patients were asked regarding side effects as well as vitamins and supplements intake. Among them, 136 TNBC patients reported an average of 3.0 side effects (95% CI 2.6-3.5), 22% more than those reported by 1015 non-TNBC patients (2.5 side effects; 95% CI 2.4-2.6); p = 0.03. Similarly, an average of 3.6 vitamins and supplements was reported by 111 TNBC patients (95% CI 2.9-4.3), 15% more compared to 854 non-TNBC patients (3.1 supplements; 95% CI 2.9-3.3); p = 0.22. An analysis of the patients reporting at least 1 side-effect showed 120 TNBC patients with an average of 3.5 side effects (95% CI 3.0-3.9), 17% more than 862 non-TNBC patients (3.0 side effects, 95% CI 2.8-3.1); p = 0.05. Regarding consumption of at least 1 vitamin/supplement, the average intake across 85 TNBC patients was 4.7 (9.5% CI 3.9-5.5), 23% more than 697 non-TNBC patients (3.8 vitamins/supplements, 95% CI 3.5-4.0); p = 0.04. Conclusions The real world evidence obtained through an international analysis shows that TNBC patients receive more toxic treatments due to the aggressive disease, as expected. TNBC patients experience significantly more side effects compared to non-TNBC patients. They also consume more vitamins and supplements; the difference across patients reporting at least one vitamin/supplement was larger and statistically significant. Legal entity responsible for the study Care Across Ltd. Funding Has not received any funding. Disclosure All authors have declared no conflicts of interest.