Abstract 1833P
Background
While studies have investigated a condition termed “chemobrain” or cancer-related cognitive impairment, the related data from the patients’ perspective remain scarce. A survey program was conducted by Kantar Health, an independent research agency, in collaboration with RoseUp, a French national cancer patient Non-Governmental Organization, to better-understand the phenomenon of chemobrain and to raise public awareness.
Methods
An initial exploration was performed using several mixed methods including a scientific publication screening, qualitative in-depth interviews with patients and oncologists, and an anonymized survey to collect online quantitative responses from RoseUp members, newsletter subscribers and website visitors in France from August 26 to October 29, 2020. Informed consent was obtained before the survey was conducted. The 25-minute questionnaire included items related to the awareness of the term “chemobrain,” women who reported chemobrain, medical history, and impact of chemobrain on quality of life.
Results
A total of 1,668 French women with breast cancer completed the online questionnaire. The median age was 49 years (standard deviation, SD 9.5). These patients had been diagnosed on average 2.9 years before the survey (median: 2; SD 3.2), and 76% (n=1,263) were currently under systemic antineoplastic treatment. Current or past treatments mainly included hormone therapy (62%), chemotherapy (36%), and/or surgery (30%). Only 28% (n=466) of the respondents were familiar with the term “chemobrain,” and 75% (n=1,248) reported suffering from symptoms akin to chemobrain. Eighty seven percent (n=1,085) of these patients attributed their chemobrain to treatment, 56% to fatigue, and 40% to disturbed sleep (multi answers permitted). Only 28% of the women reported consulting with their physician regarding chemobrain.
Conclusions
Chemobrain, also named cancer-related cognitive impairment, is still underestimated, and rarely discussed with cancer patients. Yet it is commonly experienced by patients under and after a cancer treatment. A greater awareness would allow better management of cancer patients.
Clinical trial identification
Editorial acknowledgement
Legal entity responsible for the study
Kantar Health SAS.
Funding
Kantar Health SAS.
Disclosure
I. Krakowski: Non-Financial Interests, Institutional, Leadership Role, Chairman: Association Francophone pour les Soins Oncologiques de Support; Non-Financial Interests, Institutional, Member of the Board of Directors, Non-profit patients association: RoseUp; Non-Financial Interests, Institutional, Member of the Board of Directors, Non-profit medical association: Société Française d'Oncologie Médicale. All other authors have declared no conflicts of interest.