Management of early-stage HR+, HER2- breast cancer in a real-word setting in Germany: a patient perspective

Objectives Understanding patient (pt) perspectives may help the management early breast cancer (EBC).

Materials/Methods 50 practicing physicians in Germany completed 400 pt record forms (PRFs) for pts with HR+, HER2- EBC who received/completed adjuvant therapy in the prior 12 months (Adelphi EBC Disease Specific Programme; Jun–Aug 2019); 281 of the pts completed a pt self-completion form (PSC) including questions on pts’ knowledge/perceptions of, and satisfaction with coping with, EBC (FACT-B).

Results Of the 281 pts (mean [SD] age 56.4 [12.19] years), 68% felt involved in treatment decisions; 79% considered cure as current treatment goal; and 59%/41% were satisfied/less satisfied with how they were coping with EBC. Among pts satisfied/less satisfied with how they were coping (mean age 56.5/56.3 years), 55%/75% were aware of 3–4 (of 4) aspects of their EBC, 71%/62% felt involved in treatment decisions and 49%/61% had obtained information on EBC online. Rates of adverse events (AEs) reported in both PRFs (for 72 of 400 pts with AEs) and 281 PSCs were nausea 58%/17%, joint/muscle pain 25%/28% (pain), fatigue 24%/43%, vomiting 14%/16%, headache 11%/25%, diarrhea 8%/15% and hair loss/thinning 6%/38%. Differences (≥10%) in AE rates in pts satisfied/less satisfied with how they were coping were found for fatigue 39%/51%, nausea 13%/24%, vomiting 12%/22% and diarrhea 11%/21%.

Summary Behaviors differed in pts satisfied with how they were coping with EBC vs those less satisfied. There was discrepancy in the perception of AEs between physicians and pts. Addressing these points could potentially help optimize pts satisfaction.

Publication History

Article published online:
21 June 2022