Cognitive features 10 or more years after successful breast cancer survival: comparisons across types of cancer interventions. Issue 4 (14th May 2012)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Nguyen, Christopher M.; Yamada, Torricia H.; Beglinger, Leigh J.; Cavanaugh, Joseph E.; Denburg, Natalie L.; Schultz, Susan K.
• Is Part Of: Psycho-oncology. Volume 22:Issue 4(2013)
• Page Start: 862
• Page End: 868
• Publication Date: 2012-05-14
• Subjects: Cancer -- Psychological aspects -- Periodicals; Cancer -- Social aspects -- Periodicals; Neoplasms -- psychology -- Periodicals; 616.9940019
• DOI: 10.1002/pon.3086
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1057-9249

Abstract

<abstract abstract-type="main"> <title>Abstract</title> <sec id="pon3086-sec-0061" sec-type="section"> <title>Background</title> <p>The present study examined the long‐term cognitive implications of cancer treatment among breast cancer survivors aged 65 years and older to better understand the long term implications of cancer treatment.</p> </sec> <sec id="pon3086-sec-0062" sec-type="section"> <title>Methods</title> <p>Fifty‐seven women survivors were compared with 30 healthy older female adult comparisons, matched in terms of age and education, with no history of cancer. Cancer survivors were also compared on the basis of treatment intervention, involving chemotherapy (<italic>n</italic> = 27) versus local therapy through surgery and radiation (<italic>n</italic> = 30).</p> </sec> <sec id="pon3086-sec-0063" sec-type="section"> <title>Results</title> <p>As a group, the breast cancer survivors scored lower on measures of general cognitive function, working memory, psychomotor speed, and executive function when compared with the normal comparisons. Among the cancer survivors, those who received local therapy scored lower than the other survivors and normal comparisons on measures of verbal learning, visual perception and construction, as well as visual attention and short‐term retention.</p> </sec> <sec id="pon3086-sec-0064" sec-type="section"> <title>Conclusions</title> <p>Our findings suggest that cognitive outcomes may involve greater age‐related deficits among older cancer survivors compared with matched healthy subjects. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.</p> </sec> </abstract>