Cancer-related cognitive impairment in breast cancer survivors: An examination of conceptual and statistical cognitive domains using principal component analysis.

There is a great deal of variability in the composition of neuropsychological test batteries used in the assessment of cancerrelated cognitive impairment (CRCI). Not only the development of a gold standard approach for CRCI assessment would allow for easier identification of women suffering from CRCI but it would also promote optimal care for survivors. As a first step towards the development of a valid and reliable unified test battery, the objective of this study was to verify whether the theoretical domains commonly used in CRCI assessment are statistically supported, before and after breast cancer treatment.

Measuring neuropsychological change following breast cancer treatment: an analysis of statistical models.

This article considers the quantitative techniques currently in use in the evaluation of cognitive impairments associated with chemotherapy treatment for breast cancer. To illustrate differences among analytical approaches, all analyses were applied to baseline and posttreatment scores on neuropsychological tests obtained from Stages I and II breast cancer patients receiving either chemotherapy or hormonal therapy; a healthy control group with similar demographics to those of the treatment groups was also included. Conventional group analyses were compared with individual-based analyses (standardized regression-based and reliable change methods).