Assessment of Quality of Life in Female Patients with Locally Recurrent Breast Cancer During Hyperthermia-Radiation Therapy

Breast cancer is a disease in which cells in the breast multiply uncontrollably. If the tumor is detected early and has not yet formed metastases, the standard treatment usually consists of breast-conserving surgery. Depending on the individual situation, this may be followed by chemotherapy and, in most cases, radiation therapy to eliminate any remaining cancer cells. However, the tumor may return in the same location after surgery; this is referred to as a local recurrence. If the tumor recurs, treatment options are limited, and any additional therapy can be physically and emotionally taxing. Hyperthermia treatment is a complementary procedure in cancer therapy in which the tumor tissue is selectively heated. The goal is to make the cancer cells more sensitive to radiation. Hyperthermia is used in an attempt to improve the effectiveness of radiation therapy without significantly impairing quality of life.

The objective of this study is to investigate the impact of combined treatment with radiation therapy and hyperthermia on the quality of life of patients with recurrent breast cancer (local recurrence). This is a prospective study, meaning it assesses treatment success in advance, and is being conducted at a single center, the University Hospital of Tübingen. Quality of life is assessed using standardized questionnaires (EORTC QLQ-C30, EORTC QLQ-BR23, FACT-B, and FACIT-Fatigue). Data collection takes place at the end of hyperthermic radiation therapy and during follow-up at 3 and 12 months, and subsequently annually through the 5th year after treatment.

Eligible participants are women aged 18 and older with locally recurrent breast cancer confirmed by tissue biopsy (histologically), which has either been reoperated on or is inoperable. Patients with spread to other organs (metastases) and a life expectancy of less than 2 years, or those with serious health problems such as severe heart disease or recent heart surgery, are excluded from the study.