e-Poster Presentation Clinical Oncology Society of Australia Annual Scientific Meeting 2021

Retrospective audit on body weight changes for breast cancer survivors attending Sydney Cancer Survivorship Centre clinic (#253)

Hau Yi Yau 1 , Janette Vardy 2 3 , Jane Turner 4 , Kim Kerin-Ayres 4 5 , Sue Butler 4 6 , Cole Deguchi 4 5 , Ashanya Malalasekera 4 , Sim Yee (Cindy) Tan 3 4 7
  1. The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW
  2. Concord Cancer Centre, Concord Hospital, Concord, NSW, Australia
  3. Sydney Medical School, University of Sydney, Concord, NSW, Australia
  4. Concord Cancer Centre , Concord Hospital, Concord, NSW, Australia
  5. Nursing Services, Concord Hospital, Concord, NSW, Australia
  6. Psychology Department, Concord Hospital, Concord, NSW , Australia
  7. Nutrition and Dietetics Department, Concord Hospital, Concord, NSW, Australia

Introduction: Weight gain is commonly reported by breast cancer patients who receive chemotherapy. Unintended weight gain has been associated with comorbidities and cancer recurrence risk. It is important to explore the best time to intervene to prevent weight gain in cancer survivors. Survivors attending the Sydney Cancer Survivorship Cancer (SCSC) clinic after completion of adjuvant chemotherapy see a multidisciplinary team. This study examines weight changes in breast cancer survivors (BCS) who attended the SCSC clinic between 2013 and February 2020.

 

Methods: Consented BCS (n=120) with paired data available at two time points; pre-chemotherapy (T1) and either last day of chemotherapy (T2) or first SCSC clinic visit (T3) were included but current analysis is focused on weight changes during treatment (T1 and T2). Average duration between the two time points was 2 months (range: 1-6). Descriptive tests for demographics and paired t-test for comparison of weight were used.

 

Results: Median age of 120 BCS was 52 (IQR: 48-59); all female. Overall, 60% were overweight or obese at baseline. One third of BCS (34%) received 4 cycles of dose dense AC chemotherapy. Average weight change was 0.38 kg (range from loss of 7.75 to gain of 10.95kg); no significant difference between T1 and T2 (p = 0.153). Among patients who gained weight (n=30, 25%), 33% were overweight and 33% were obese at T1.  The average weight gained was 3.8 kg (range 2-10.95); 7 (23%) gained ≥5 kg.  

 

Conclusions: Overall, BCS’s weight did not change significantly during chemotherapy but a subgroup gained more than 5kg during this period. Weight gain during treatment, especially for BCS who were already overweight or obese before chemotherapy, is undesirable. Further investigation into factors associated with weight gain in this subgroup of BCS will help to plan the best time to intervene and promote a healthy weight.