Cancer medicine
Quality of Life in Adults With Metastatic Breast Cancer: The Impact of Between- and Within-Person Changes in Symptoms and Positive Affect
By Mossman B, Small BJ, Addington EL and 15 others.
Abstract
Introduction
Quality of life (QoL) is important for patients with metastatic breast cancer (MBC). We examined QoL in daily life among patients with MBC using ecological momentary assessment (EMA).
Methods
From 2023 to 2024, patients with MBC were recruited from 5 Mid-Atlantic sites. Eligible patients were English- or Spanish-speaking, with a life expectancy > 6 months and access to a smartphone. Participants were invited to complete 12 EMAs over 4 weeks. EMAs assessed global QoL, symptom severity (depression, anxiety, pain, fatigue, slowed cognition, appetite loss, nausea, gastrointestinal distress, decreased libido), and positive affect (social connection, peace, joy). Multilevel mixed-effects models analyzed the relationships between QoL and between-person and within-person variations in symptom severity and positive affect. We also explored associations between QoL and years since MBC diagnosis at the time of study entry.