Anxiety changes following initiation of treatment in older breast cancer (BrCa) patients.

8262 Background: Although anxiety levels decrease tolerance to chemotherapy (ctx) and quality of life (QOL), few studies have assessed longitudinal anxiety changes in older BrCa pts undergoing adjuvant treatment. Results from an ongoing prospective longitudinal study of the QOL and psychological effects of adjuvant treatment in older BrCa pts are reported.,Pts ≥ 50 yrs of age with stage I-III BrCa and no prior cancer history or ctx were eligible for enrollment. All pts undergo surgical resection and receive adjuvant ctx and/or hormonal therapy per their oncologists' recommendations. Anxiety was measured using the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory, a validated scale that distinguishes transient state anxiety (STAI-S) from background trait anxiety (STAI-T). In addition, geriatric measures of cognition (Mini-Mental State Examination [MMSE]) and functional status (instrumental activities of daily living [IADLs]) were collected. Assessments are administered at baseline, 6 mos, and are planned for 2 yrs. Anxiety levels were compared pairwise in pts at baseline (prior to the initiation of therapy) and at 6 mo (after starting therapy).,Pts (n=27) are older (mean = 70; range 56-80), predominantly non-caucasian (56%), not married (52%), and have a HS education level (mean = 13.4 yrs). They are cognitively intact (mean MMSE = 29), highly functional (96% with ECOG = 0; mean IADL score of 13/14), and not depressed (7%) at baseline and 6 mos. None of the sociodemographic measures were related to baseline anxiety levels, including age. Mean STAI-S scores decreased significantly from baseline to 6 mos (36.3 vs. 29.9; p=.002, Wilcoxon Signed Ranks Test), while mean STAI-T scores did not change. Pts on ctx were more anxious at baseline than those on hormonal therapy (STAI-S 43.9 vs. 33.6; p=.007), but not at 6 mos. In a multivariate, repeated-measures ANOVA controlling for age and therapy, STAI-S still decreased significantly.,Older BrCa pts receiving adjuvant therapy experience a significant decrease in state anxiety following treatment initiation. Those receiving ctx vs hormonal therapy are more anxious at baseline. Older women with BrCa benefit from peace-of-mind with therapy initiation. No significant financial relationships to disclose.