Asian Oncology Nursing  2013;13(1):11-17

doi:10.5388/aon.2013.13.1.11

Comparison of Climacteric Symptoms and Cognitive Impairment in Breast Cancer Survivors and Healthy Women.

Gyung Duck KIM 1 ; Bok Yae CHUNG ; Kyung Hae KIM ; Hye Sun BYUN ; Eun Hee CHOI

Affiliations

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Keywords

Breast Neoplasms; Survivors; Climacteric; Symptoms; Cognitive Disorder

Country

Republic of Korea

Language

Korean

Abstract

PURPOSE: This study was to compare climacteric symptoms and cognitive impairment in breast cancer survivors (n=51) and healthy women (n=51). METHODS: This study was conducted from January 4th, 2012 to February 16th, 2012. We individually matched healthy women to breast cancer survivors based on age and education, and assessed a questionnaire regarding climacteric symptoms and cognitive impairment. Data were analyzed by using chi2, t-test, and Pearson correlation with the SPSS/Win 12.0 program. RESULTS: The average score for the climacteric symptoms (19.71) was significantly different (t=-2.78, p=.006) to the average for the breast cancer survivors (15.53). The average cognitive impairment score for the breast cancer survivors (86.37) was significantly different (t=-2.45, p=.016) to the average score for the healthy women (67.92). The climacteric symptoms score showed a significant relationship with cognitive impairment. CONCLUSION: These results support that adjuvant chemotherapy and anti-hormone therapy are associated with climacteric symptoms and adverse cognitive effects in breast cancer survivors.