The Need for Psycho-Oncological Support in Breast Cancer Patients – A Longitudinal Study in an Outpatient- Setting

Objective: Breast cancer is frequently associated with psycho-oncological burden for the affected patients. Severity and temporal dimension are often not readily assessable, as many patients do not express their need for professional counseling. Monitoring usually ends together with the patients’ intensive medical cancer therapy. Thus, information on the longitudinal need for psycho-oncological support is limited. The aim of this questionnaire- based observational study was to identify breast cancer patients in need of psycho-oncological support and to monitor these patients in the long-term. Methods: A total of 94 patients treated in two oncological practices in Germany between May 2011 and July 2015 were included. 61 patients had primary breast cancer and 33 presented with recurrent/metastatic disease. To assess the patients’ burden, the standardized self-rating Questionnaire on Stress in Cancer Patients – short form (QSC-R10) was to be answered by each patient at different time points. Results: Of 41% (n=39) initially burdened patients treated either in a curative or in a palliative setting, 67% (n=26) still required psycho-oncological support at the time of the second survey. Conclusions: Psycho-oncological burden is common in breast cancer patients and the need for support persists over a long period of time. In the future, this temporal dimension has to be adequately addressed after the completion of their intensive medical cancer therapy. Thus, the long-term monitoring of cancer patients with the QSC-R10 is strongly recommended.