Health-related Quality of Life in Long-Term Early-Stage Breast Cancer Survivors Compared to General Population in Korea.

This study assessed health-related quality of life (HRQoL) of long-term breast cancer (BC) survivors diagnosed at early stages and compare with cancer-free, age-matched women. The study population included BC survivors diagnosed with ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) or breast cancer stages I-II, who had undergone lumpectomy/mastectomy, with time since diagnosis ranging from 9 to 16 years. Survey was conducted at two tertiary hospitals in 2020. Data for cancer-free female controls was randomly drawn from a population-based survey and age-, education-matched with 1 case: 3 controls ratio. Self-reported HRQoL was assessed using EQ-5D with five dimentions. EQ-5D utility index score was calculated. Difference in EQ-5D score was evaluated using the Tobit regression model with adjustment for other covariates. Of 273 survivors. 88 β =0.117, p < 0.001). Long-term BC survivors who survived beyond ten years post-diagnosis experience more pain, anxiety, and distress, leading to an overall poorer HRQoL. This study suggest the importance of follow-up care, particularly focusing on pain, anxiety, and distress management to enhance the HRQoL of long-term BC survivors.