A study looking at how breast cancer affects well being and quality of life

This study is following women with recently diagnosed breast cancer over the course of a year to learn more about their heath and well being during this time.

We know that many people who are diagnosed with breast cancer have a range of symptoms that can affect their general wellbeing and quality of life. This study will monitor the health and well being of a large number of women with breast cancer before, during and after cancer treatment. The team will collect information about common problems such as sleep problems, severe tiredness (fatigue), anxiety, coping, depression and pain.

Not everyone will develop all of these symptoms. What the team are interested in is which symptoms develop in which women, and when. This will give health professionals important information about when and how they can best support patients after diagnosis. They hope that this will lead to improved services for cancer patients to manage symptoms and maintain a good quality of life.

Recruitment

Start 14/03/2011

End 30/09/2012

Phase

Other

Who can enter

You can enter this study if you are a woman and you

Live in the area covered by NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde
Have been diagnosed with breast cancer in the last 6 months
Are due to start, or have started a course of chemotherapy, radiotherapy or hormone therapy

You cannot enter this study if you

Have a confused mental state
Have a mental health condition that is a cause for concern
Have a history of drug misuse
Have any sleep disorder apart from difficulty sleeping (insomnia)
Are taking part in another study or trial looking at the mind and how it works

Trial design

This study will recruit 250 women.

If you would like to join the study, the team will ask you to take part in a short interview with the researcher, to make sure the study is suitable for your situation.

Everyone who is suitable to take part will complete a number of questionnaires. These questionnaires will ask you about different areas of your health and general wellbeing. You will also complete a short, computer based task. The team are interested in finding out more about your health and wellbeing in the first year after your diagnosis.

Hospital visits

You will take part in the study for between 6 to 12 months, depending on when you join.

You will have your interview with the researcher to see if you are suitable for the study when you come to the hospital for one of your routine clinic appointments. But if you prefer, the researcher can visit you at home.

You can then either complete the rest of the study tasks when you come to hospital for your clinic appointments, or at home. If you complete them at home you can either do this by post, be given access to use a secure online system from your home, or the researcher can visit you at home. The study tasks include

Completing an assessment of your sleep (2 minutes), once a month for as long as you are in the study
Filling out a set of questionnaires on your general health and well being (30 minutes) at the start of the study and then every 3 months for as long as you are in the study
Doing a simple task on the computer (5 minutes) at the start of the study and then every 3 months for as long as you are in the study