With New Breast Cancer Treatments Come Lasting Toxicity

The field of breast cancer research is rapidly evolving, with more efficacious treatment options than ever before. However, many survivors are still facing long-term adverse events (AEs) as a result of their treatment, explained Kerryn Reding, PhD, MPH, RN, an associate professor of the School of Nursing at the University of Washington and member at the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center.

TRANSCRIPTION

Great advances have been made in treatment for breast cancer that have led to great survival rates for women with stage I through III breast cancer, but those same women often experience late effects or side effects from their treatments. Those include things like fatigue, exercise intolerance, and an increased risk for cardiovascular disease. We see that about a third of women, after treatment ends, are still living with fatigue and a reduced exercise capacity, and that puts them at a lower quality of life and also they experience a lower ability to perform their activities of daily living.