Prostate cancer survivors who would be eligible for active surveillance but were either treated with radiotherapy or managed expectantly: comparisons on long-term quality of life and symptom burden.

Objective: To assess and identify factors associated with the long-term health-related quality of life (HRQL) of prostate cancer survivors managed expectantly, as patients with low-risk prostate cancer can be managed with active surveillance (AS), but research on associated long-term HRQL is scarce.

Patients And Methods: From the population-based Eindhoven Cancer Registry, 71 men managed with AS were matched with 71 survivors who had similar demographic and clinical characteristics but treated with external beam radiotherapy (RT). All were diagnosed between 1994 and 1998.

The impact of disease progression on perceived health status and quality of life of long-term cancer survivors.

Introduction: The number of cancer survivors experiencing disease progression (DP) is increasing with the number of cancer survivors. However, little is known whether DP affects health-related quality of life (HRQL) of long-term cancer survivors. We aimed therefore to compare the health status (HS) and HRQL of DP and disease-free (DF) survivors up to 15 years after initial diagnosis.

Relationship between age and axillary lymph node involvement in women with breast cancer.

Purpose: To study the relation between the presence of axillary lymph node (LN) involvement and age in breast cancer.

Patients And Methods: The breast cancer database of the University Hospitals Leuven contains complete data on 2,227 patients with early breast cancer consecutively treated between 2000 and 2005. A multivariate piecewise logistic regression model was used to analyze LN involvement in relation to age at diagnosis.

Long-term cancer survivors experience work changes after diagnosis: results of a population-based study.

Background: Although cancer survivorship is increasing with improved diagnosis and treatments, few studies have explored employment changes and the factors related to this change among cancer survivors. Therefore, we aim to explore the prevalence of employment problems in long-term cancer survivors. In addition, we explored what patient or tumour characteristics predicted employment changes.

Delayed diagnosis of breast cancer in women recalled for suspicious screening mammography.

Purpose: To determine the frequency, pathology and causes of a delay in cancer diagnosis in women recalled for suspicious screening mammography.

Methods: We included all 290,943 screening mammograms of women aged 50-75 years, who underwent biennial screening mammography between 1st January 1995 and 1st January 2006. During a follow-up period of at least 2 years, clinical data, breast imaging reports, biopsy results and breast surgery reports were collected of all 3513 women with a positive screening result.

The impact of postmastectomy radiotherapy on local control in patients with invasive lobular breast cancer.

Purpose: The aim of this population-based study was to examine the impact of postmastectomy radiotherapy on the risk of local recurrence in patients with invasive lobular breast cancer (ILC).

Methods: The population-based Eindhoven Cancer Registry was used to select all patients with ILC, who underwent mastectomy in five general hospitals in the southern part of the Netherlands between 1995 and 2002. Of the 499 patients 383 patients fulfilled the eligibility criteria.

Substantial increase in the use of adjuvant systemic treatment for early stage breast cancer reflects changes in guidelines in the period 1990-2006 in the southeastern Netherlands.

Background: This study evaluated trends in adjuvant systemic treatment among breast cancer patients and analyzed the factors on which treatment choice was based.

Patients And Methods: Patients diagnosed with early stage breast cancer in 1990-2006 were selected from the registry of the Comprehensive Cancer Centre South (n=8261). The probability of receiving therapy was determined per characteristic for the periods 1990-1997, 1998-2001 and 2002-2006, separately.

Improved overall survival for patients with rectal cancer since 1990: the effects of TME surgery and pre-operative radiotherapy.

Aim: The aim was to study the effects of the introduction of TME surgery and pre-operative radiotherapy on overall survival (OS) by comparing patients treated in the period before (1990-1995), during (1996-1999) and after (2000-2002) the TME trial.

Patients And Methods: Patients diagnosed with rectal carcinoma in the region of Comprehensive Cancer Centres South and West were used (n=3179).

Results: Five-year OS was, respectively, 56%, 62% and 65% in the pre-trial, trial and post-trial periods (p<0.

Bowel, urinary, and sexual problems among long-term prostate cancer survivors: a population-based study.

Purpose: To obtain insight into the long-term (5- to 10-year) effects of prostate cancer and treatment on bowel, urinary, and sexual function, we performed a population-based study. Prostate-specific function was compared with an age-matched normative population without prostate cancer.

Methods And Materials: Through the population-based Eindhoven Cancer Registry, we selected all men diagnosed with prostate cancer between 1994 and 1998 in the southern Netherlands.

Does diabetes mellitus as a comorbid condition affect the health-related quality of life in prostate cancer survivors? Results of a population-based observational study.

Objective: To assess the health-related quality of life (HRQoL) of long-term, disease-free prostate cancer survivors and compare it with that of prostate cancer survivors with diabetes mellitus (DM), and a Dutch normative population, as comorbidity can have a major impact on HRQoL in cancer survivors.

Patients And Methods: The Eindhoven Cancer Registry was used to select all men diagnosed with prostate cancer from 1994 to 1998. Questionnaires on HRQoL (Short Form 36) and prostate specific problems (University of California, Los Angeles Expanded Prostate Cancer Index) were sent to 964 patients, and 780 (81%) responded.

Severity of cardiovascular disease and health-related quality of life in men with prostate cancer: a longitudinal analysis from CaPSURE.

Objective: To evaluate the influence of comorbid cardiovascular disease severity on health-related quality of life (HRQL) in men treated with radical prostatectomy (RP) or radiotherapy (RT) for early stage prostate cancer.

Methods: Subjects (n=830) with non-metastatic disease who had been diagnosed in 2000-2002 were drawn from Cancer of the Prostate Strategic Urologic Research Endeavor (CaPSURE). We evaluated the influence of cardiovascular disease (CVD) severity on generic and disease-specific HRQL before and 6, 12, 18, and 24 months after treatment with RP or RT.

Implementation of sentinel node biopsy in breast cancer patients in the Netherlands.

Background: This population-based study describes the implementation of the sentinel node biopsy (SNB) in breast cancer patients in the Netherlands. We examined the extent of use over time of SNB in women who were considered eligible for SNB on the basis of their clinical status.

Methods: The study included a total of 35,465 breast cancer patients who were diagnosed with T1-2 tumours (5.

Internet use by cancer survivors: current use and future wishes.

Objective: The objective of this study was to evaluate the extent of internet access and use and patient characteristics associated with internet use. We also aimed to study when and at which sites cancer patients search for information, the self-reported effect on health care use, and patients' wishes with respect to future internet possibilities.

Materials And Methods: We drew a sample of 390 patients diagnosed with breast (n = 128), prostate (n = 96), or gynecological (n = 89) cancer or lymphoma (n = 77) in four different hospitals in the period 2002-2004, who were 65 years or younger at diagnosis.

The influence of cardiovascular disease on health related quality of life in men with prostate cancer: a 4-year followup study.

Purpose: Presence of comorbid conditions has consistently been associated with less aggressive treatment and worse overall survival in men with prostate cancer. However, little is known about the impact of comorbidity on health related quality of life outcomes, which may help men and their physicians facing decisions on primary treatment.

Materials And Methods: We evaluated patterns of health related quality of life in men with both prostate cancer and cardiovascular disease during 4 years of followup in a cohort of 475 prostate cancer survivors.

Health-related quality of life and health care utilisation among older long-term cancer survivors: a population-based study.

Background: The consequences of cancer and its treatment on health-related quality of life (HRQL) and health care utilisation among elderly long-term cancer survivors have rarely been studied. However, the impact can be different for older compared to younger patients due to the higher prevalence of comorbid diseases, a higher risk of treatment-related complications and because they often receive different therapies compared to younger patients. Therefore, this study addressed the following questions; do HRQL and health care utilisation differ between younger and elderly cancer survivors, and are those differences age or disease related.

Impact of external beam adjuvant radiotherapy on health-related quality of life for long-term survivors of endometrial adenocarcinoma: a population-based study.

Purpose: To compare the health-related quality of life (HRQOL) among 5-10-year survivors of Stage I-II endometrial (adeno-)carcinoma (EC) treated with surgery alone or surgery with external beam adjuvant radiotherapy (EBRT) and an age-matched norm population.

Methods And Materials: A population-based, cross-sectional survey was conducted by the Eindhoven Cancer Registry. All patients were included who had been diagnosed with EC between 1994 and 1998 (n = 462).

Absence of lymphangiogenesis in ductal breast cancer at the primary tumor site.

Solid evidence for a relationship between lymphangiogenesis and prognosis in human breast cancer is still lacking. Evidence for ongoing lymphangiogenesis in breast cancer is only provided by animal studies. In the present study we investigated lymphatic vessel density as well as the expression level of the lymphangiogenic factors VEGF-C and -D in a series of 121 ductal breast cancer tissues using immunohistochemical stainings.

Increased health care utilization among long-term cancer survivors compared to the average Dutch population: a population-based study.

In the present study, self-reported health care utilization of cancer survivors is compared with those of an age- and gender-matched normative population and predictors of health care utilization are identified. A population-based, cross-sectional survey among 1893 long-term survivors of endometrial and prostate cancer and malignant lymphomas (Hodgkin's and non-Hodgkin's) diagnosed between 1989 and 1998 was conducted using the cancer registry of the Comprehensive Cancer Centre South. Cancer survivors visited their general practitioner somewhat more often compared to the age and gender-matched general Dutch population but this effect was not always statistically significant.

The safety of breast-conserving therapy in patients with breast cancer aged < or = 40 years.

Background: The objectives of this study were to study the probability of local control after breast-conserving therapy (BCT) in a large population of patients with early-stage breast cancer aged < or = 40 years and to determine which factors had prognostic value.

Methods: All patients (n = 758) aged < or = 40 years with clinical stage I or II breast cancer who underwent BCT in general hospitals in the southern part of the Netherlands between 1988 and 2002 were selected for the current analysis. BCT included local excision of the tumor followed by irradiation of the breast.

Quality of life among long-term non-Hodgkin lymphoma survivors: a population-based study.

Background: The objective of this population-based study was to document the long-term effects (5-15 years postdiagnosis) of non-Hodgkin lymphoma and its treatment on health-related quality of life (HRQL) and social problems.

Methods: The population-based Eindhoven Cancer Registry was used to select all patients who were diagnosed with non-Hodgkin lymphoma from 1989 to 1998. Three hundred sixty patients were invited to complete the 36-item Short Form Health Survey (SF-36) and the Quality of Life-Cancer Survivors questionnaire, and 294 patients (82%) responded.

Trends in the prognosis of patients with primary metastatic breast cancer diagnosed between 1975 and 2002.

We performed a population-based study, including 1089 patients with primary metastatic breast cancer, diagnosed in South-East Netherlands between 1975 and 2002, and tried to give an answer to the question if prognosis of this patient group has improved or not. Follow-up was completed until 1 January 2005. The median survival times for patients with primary metastatic disease were 18, 17 and 20.

Less aggressive treatment and worse overall survival in cancer patients with diabetes: a large population based analysis.

The purpose of this study was to document the prevalence of diabetes among newly diagnosed cancer patients and to evaluate the influence of diabetes on stage at diagnosis, treatment and overall survival. We performed a population-based analyses of all 58,498 cancer patients newly diagnosed between 1995 and 2002 in the registration area of the Eindhoven Cancer Registry. Stage of cancer, cancer treatment and comorbidities were actively collected by hospital medical records review.

Better quality of life among 10-15 year survivors of Hodgkin's lymphoma compared to 5-9 year survivors: a population-based study.

This study describes the quality of life (QoL) of long-term Hodgkin's lymphoma survivors and compares it to an age-matched normative sample. The population-based Eindhoven Cancer Registry was used to select all patients diagnosed with Hodgkin's lymphoma from 1989 to 1998. Eighty percent of survivors completed the SF-36 and the quality of life-cancer survivors questionnaire.

A validation study of the Dutch version of the Quality of Life-Cancer Survivor (QOL-CS) questionnaire in a group of prostate cancer survivors.

The primary objective of this study was to validate the Dutch version of the Quality of Life-Cancer Survivor (QOL-CS) questionnaire using a group of Dutch prostate cancer survivors. The QOL-CS was specifically designed to measure the quality of life of long-term cancer survivors. We performed a population-based, cohort study of 784 prostate cancer survivors who were diagnosed with prostate cancer between 1994 and 1998.