Patient preferences for adjuvant chemotherapy in early breast cancer: what makes it worthwhile? [ 2002 - 2002 ]

Research Grant

Researchers: Prof Martin Stockler (Principal investigator) ,  A/Pr Linda Reaby ,  A/Pr Prudence Francis ,  Dr Haryana Dhillon ,  Prof Alan Coates
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Brief description Adjuvant chemotherapy, used in addition to surgery and radiation, improves recurrence and survival rates in women with early breast cancer. These gains must be balanced against the side effects and inconvenience of chemotherapy including hair loss, nausea, tiredness and risk of infection. This study will determine the gains considered necessary to make modern adjuvant chemotherapy for early breast cancer worthwhile by asking women who have had such treatment. It will determine factors that might influence the gain considered necessary, such as the kind of treatment, the severity of the side effects experienced, social and other factors. Three hundred women who have had modern adjuvant chemotherapy in an ongoing international clinical trial will be recruited and interviewed. The interviews are standardised, scripted and administered by trained researchers to avoid influencing the subjects. Diagrams and props are used to make the questions clearer. Evaluation of these aids is an additional aspect of the project. This information will be invaluable for women and clinicians considering this potentially curative treatment over the next 15 years. The study will also provide new knowledge on how best to provide information about the benefits of treatment. This can then be applied to discussions about treatment in routine clinical practice. The methods are suitable for a wide range of questions in other diseases and settings. The project will be extended to develop the materials for other questions in breast cancer and other settings.

Funding Amount $AUD 69,420.00

Funding Scheme NHMRC Project Grants

Notes Standard Project Grant