Trajectories of Quality of Life among an International Sample of Women during the First Year after the Diagnosis of Early Breast Cancer: A Latent Growth Curve Analysis

SIMPLE SUMMARY: The current study aimed to examine the quality of life among women coping with breast cancer during the first 12 months post-diagnosis. We followed 699 women from four different countries as part of the BOUNCE Project in order to learn about the various factors that may influence their well-being. We assessed the women every three months with questionnaires asking them to report on psychological, biological, and functioning aspects of their life. The results showed that four groups of patients could be distinguished: The largest group (47% of the participants) showed an initial medium level of quality of life and tended to improve with time during the first year after breast cancer diagnosis. The second group comprised about a quarter of the women (26%), who showed stability in their medium quality of life. The third group (18%) showed an initially high level of quality of life and tended to improve with time. Last, the smallest group (9%) reported an initial low quality of life that tended to remain stable over the first year, with no improvement. Thus, most women experienced improvements in QoL during the first year post-diagnosis. However, approximately one-third of women experienced a consistently low quality of life, and they need early interventions. ABSTRACT: The current study aimed to track the trajectory of quality of life (QoL) among subgroups of women with breast cancer in the first 12 months post-diagnosis. We also aimed to assess the number and portion of women classified into each distinct trajectory and the sociodemographic, clinical, and psychosocial factors associated with these trajectories. The international sample included 699 participants who were recruited soon after being diagnosed with breast cancer as part of the BOUNCE Project. QoL was assessed at baseline and after 3, 6, 9, and 12 months, and we used Latent Class Growth Analysis to identify trajectory subgroups. Sociodemographic, clinical, and psychosocial factors at baseline were used to predict latent class membership. Four distinct QoL trajectories were identified in the first 12 months after a breast cancer diagnosis: medium and stable (26% of participants); medium and improving (47%); high and improving (18%); and low and stable (9%). Thus, most women experienced improvements in QoL during the first year post-diagnosis. However, approximately one-third of women experienced consistently low-to-medium QoL. Cancer stage was the only variable which was related to the QoL trajectory in the multivariate analysis. Early interventions which specifically target women who are at risk of ongoing low QoL are needed.