Skip to main content

Advertisement

Log in

Life After Cancer Epidemiology (LACE) Study: A cohort of early stage breast cancer survivors (United States)

  • Published:
Cancer Causes & Control Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

The Life After Cancer Epidemiology (LACE) Study, a cohort of 2321 early stage breast cancer survivors, was established in 2000 to examine how modifiable behavioral risk factors affect quality of life and long-term survival. Women were recruited primarily from the Kaiser Permanente Northern California Cancer Registry (KPNCAL) and the Utah cancer registry (UCR), United States. Baseline data were collected, on average, at two years post-diagnosis through self-administered questionnaires that included information on demographics, medical history, anthropometry, diet, supplements, physical activity and quality of life. The purpose of this paper is to describe the creation and baseline characteristics of the cohort. Forty-six percent of women to whom questionnaires were mailed agreed to participate. The cohort which is 80% white, was diagnosed predominantly with Stage I and II breast cancer (93%), and will have been followed for 5.6 years post-diagnosis, on average, by the end of 2004. Women reported slightly over four daily servings of fruit and vegetables, well below the suggested 5-A-Day national guidelines. Compared to women free of cancer, physical activity patterns were similar, while weight gain, especially in younger women, was higher than is typical. These data suggest that in the early years post-diagnosis, breast cancer survivors exhibit similar patterns to the general population in many health behaviors.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. American Cancer Society (1997) Cancer Facts and Figures. Atlanta, GA.

  2. American Cancer Society (2002) Breast Cancer Facts and Figures 2001–2002. Atlanta, GA.

  3. http: www.nabco.org/index.php/index.php/137 (2002) National Alliance of Breast Cancer Organizations.

  4. BA Miller BF Hankey TL Thomas (2003) ArticleTitleImpact of sociodemographic factors, hormone receptor status, and tumor grade on ethnic differences in tumor stage and size for breast cancer in US women Am J Epidemiol 155 534–545 Occurrence Handle10.1093/aje/155.6.534

    Article  Google Scholar 

  5. GN Hortobagyi (1998) ArticleTitleTreatment of breast cancer N Engl J Med 339 974–984 Occurrence Handle10.1056/NEJM199810013391407 Occurrence Handle1:CAS:528:DyaK1cXmslCitrY%3D Occurrence Handle9753714

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  6. Anonymous (1998) ArticleTitleTamoxifen for early breast cancer: an overview of the randomised trials. Early Breast Cancer Trialists’ Collaborative Group Lancet 351 1451–1467 Occurrence Handle10.1016/S0140-6736(97)11423-4 Occurrence Handle9605801

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  7. T Saphner DC Tormey R Gray (1996) ArticleTitleAnnual hazard rates of recurrence for breast cancer after primary therapy J Clin Oncol 14 2738–2746 Occurrence Handle1:STN:280:ByiD38fjt1U%3D Occurrence Handle8874335

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  8. E Giovannucci G Colditz M Stampfer et al. (1991) ArticleTitleThe assessment of alcohol consumption by a simple self-administered questionnaire Am J Epidemiol 133 IssueID8 810–817 Occurrence Handle1:STN:280:By6B3MzptFE%3D Occurrence Handle2021148

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  9. T Weaver L Kushi P McGovern et al. (1996) ArticleTitleValidation study of self-reported measures of fat distribution Int J Obes Relat Metab Disord 20 644–650 Occurrence Handle1:STN:280:BymH3MvjtlQ%3D Occurrence Handle8817358

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  10. H Kohl S Blair R Paffenbarger SuffixJr C Macera J Kronenfeld (1988) ArticleTitleA mail survey of physical activity habits as related to measured physical fitness Am J Epidemiol 127 IssueID6 1228–1239 Occurrence Handle1:STN:280:BieB38%2FjtVc%3D Occurrence Handle3369421

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  11. B O’Toole D Battistutta A Long K Crouch (1986) ArticleTitleA comparison of costs and data quality of three health survey methods: mail, telephone and personal home interview Am J Epidemiol 124 317–328 Occurrence Handle1:STN:280:BimB28rlsFI%3D Occurrence Handle3728446

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  12. G Block AM Hartman CM Dresser MD Carroll J Gannon L Gardner (1986) ArticleTitleA data-based approach to diet questionnaire design and testing Am J Epidemiol 124 453–469 Occurrence Handle1:STN:280:BimB1M3pt1M%3D Occurrence Handle3740045

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  13. RE Patterson AR Kristal RA Carter L Fels-Tinker MP Bolton T Agurs-Collins (1999) ArticleTitleMeasurement characteristics of the Women’s Health Initiative food frequency questionnaire Ann Epidemiol 9 178–187 Occurrence Handle10.1016/S1047-2797(98)00055-6 Occurrence Handle1:STN:280:DyaK1M3gs1ylug%3D%3D Occurrence Handle10192650

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  14. P Kirk R Patterson J Lampe (1999) ArticleTitleDevelopment of a soy food frequency questionnaire to estimate isoflavone consumption in US adults J Am Med Assoc 99 558–563 Occurrence Handle1:STN:280:DyaK1M3ms1eiuw%3D%3D

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  15. PC Pillow CM Duphorne S Chang et al. (1999) ArticleTitleDevelopment of a database for assessing dietary phytoestrogen intake Nutr Cancer 33 3–19 Occurrence Handle1:CAS:528:DyaK1MXivFSrtbw%3D Occurrence Handle10227038

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  16. CL Frankenfeld RE Patterson NK Horner et al. (2003) ArticleTitleValidation of a soy food-frequency questionnaire and evaluation of correlates of plasma isoflavone concentrates in postmenopausal women Am J Clin Nutr 77 674–680 Occurrence Handle1:CAS:528:DC%2BD3sXnsVSrurk%3D Occurrence Handle12600860

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  17. RE Patterson ML Neuhouser E White AR Kristal JD Potter (1999) ArticleTitleMeasurement error from assessing use of vitamin supplements at one point in time Epidemiol 9 567–569

    Google Scholar 

  18. V Newman CL Rock S Faerber SW Flatt FA Wright JP Pierce (1998) ArticleTitleDietary supplement use by women at risk for breast cancer recurrence The Women’s Healthy Eating and Living Study Group. J Am Diet Assoc 98 285–292 Occurrence Handle1:STN:280:DyaK1c7mslChuw%3D%3D

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  19. LK Staten DL Taren WH Howell et al. (2001) ArticleTitleValidation of the Arizona Activity Frequency Questionnaire using doubly labeled water Med Sci Sports Exerc 33 1959–1967 Occurrence Handle1:STN:280:DC%2BD3MnltFajsQ%3D%3D Occurrence Handle11689750

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  20. DR Jacobs SuffixJr BE Ainsworth TJ Hartman AS Leon (1993) ArticleTitleA simultaneous evaluation of 10 commonly used physical activity questionnaires Med Sci Sports Exerc 25 81–91 Occurrence Handle8423759

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  21. H Taylor D Jacobs SuffixJr B Schucker J Knudsen A Leon G Debacker (1978) ArticleTitleA questionnaire for the assessment of leisure time physical activities J Chronic Dis 31 741–755 Occurrence Handle1:STN:280:CSaC2M7ivFw%3D Occurrence Handle748370

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  22. BE Ainsworth WL Haskell AS Leon et al. (1993) ArticleTitleCompendium of physical activities: classification of energy costs of human physical activities Med Sci Sports Exerc 25 71–80 Occurrence Handle1:STN:280:ByyC2c%2FmtFU%3D Occurrence Handle8292105

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  23. U.S. Dept. of Health and Human Services, Center for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center for Chronic Disease and Prevention (1996) Physical Activity and Health: A Report of the Surgeon General.

  24. MJ Brady DF Cella F Mo et al. (1997) ArticleTitleReliability and validity of the Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy-Breast quality-of-life instrument J Clin Oncol 15 974–986 Occurrence Handle1:STN:280:ByiB3MzosVM%3D Occurrence Handle9060536

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  25. PJ Brantley DJ Mehan JL Thomas (2000) The Beck Depression Inventory and the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale (CES-D) ME Maruish (Eds) Handbook of Psychological Assessment in Primary Care Settings. Lawrence Erlbaum Associates Inc. Mahwah, NJ 391–421

    Google Scholar 

  26. AM Jette LG Branch (1981) ArticleTitleThe Framingham Disability Study. II. Physical disability among the aging Am J Public Health 71 1211–1216 Occurrence Handle1:STN:280:Bi2D2cznslM%3D Occurrence Handle7294262

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  27. InstitutionalAuthorNameNational Institute on Aging (1986) Established populations for epidemiologic studies of the elderly. Resource Data Book National Institute on Aging Washington, DC

    Google Scholar 

  28. SJ Nagle (1976) ArticleTitleAn epidemiology of disability among adults in the United States Milbank Q 54 439–468

    Google Scholar 

  29. I Rosow N Breslau (1966) ArticleTitleA Guttman health scale for the aged J Gerontol 21 556–559 Occurrence Handle1:STN:280:CCiD3MrnsVQ%3D Occurrence Handle5918309

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  30. IB Tager A Swanson W Satariano (1998) ArticleTitleReliability of physical performance and self-reported functional measures in an older population J Gerontol Med Sci 53 M295–M300

    Google Scholar 

  31. EB Rimm MJ Stampfer GA Colditz CG Chute LB Litin WC Willett (1990) ArticleTitleValidity of self-reported waist and hip circumferences in men and women Epidemiology 1 466–473 Occurrence Handle1:STN:280:By6B3MrhsFE%3D Occurrence Handle2090285

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  32. Women’s Health Initiative Clinical trial and Observational Study semi-Annual Progress Report (2003) WHI Clinical Coordinating Center, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center.

  33. Wayne SJM, Lopez STB, Butler LMB, Baumgartner KBMM, Baumgartner RNP, Ballard-Barbash RM (in press) Changes in Dietary Intake After Diagnosis of Breast Cancer. J Am Diet Assoc.

  34. BL Winters DC Mitchell H Smiciklas-Wright MB Grosvenor W Liu GL Blackburn (2004) ArticleTitleDietary patterns in women treated for breast cancer who successfully reduce fat intake: the Women’s Intervention Nutrition Study (WINS) J Am Diet Assoc 104 551–559 Occurrence Handle15054339

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  35. CA Thomson A Giuliano CL Rock et al. (2003) ArticleTitleMeasuring dietary change in a diet intervention trial: comparing food frequency questionnaire and dietary recalls Am J Epidemiol 157 754–762 Occurrence Handle12697580

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  36. CA Taylor JS Hampl CS Johnston (2000) ArticleTitleLow intakes of vegetables and fruits, especially citrus fruits, lead to inadequate vitamin C intakes among adults Eur J Clin Nutr 54 573–578 Occurrence Handle1:STN:280:DC%2BD3M%2FpsFWrtQ%3D%3D Occurrence Handle10918468

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  37. Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (2004) Prevalence of Sedentary Lifestyle – Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System, United States, 1991, pp. 576–579.

  38. Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (2003) Prevalence of physical activity, including lifestyle activities among adults – Unites States, 2000–2001. pp. 764–769.

  39. RE Patterson ML Neuhouser MM Hedderson SM Schwartz LJ Standish DJ Bowen (2003) ArticleTitleChanges in diet, physical activity, and supplement use among adults diagnosed with cancer J Am Diet Assoc 103 323–328 Occurrence Handle12616253

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  40. A McTiernan C Kooperberg E White et al. (2003) ArticleTitleRecreational physical activity and the risk of breast cancer in postmenopausal women: the Women’s Health Initiative Cohort Study JAMA 290 1331–1336 Occurrence Handle1:CAS:528:DC%2BD3sXnt1ajur0%3D Occurrence Handle12966124

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  41. L Bernstein M Allen H Anton-Culver et al. (2002) ArticleTitleHigh breast cancer incidence rates among California teachers: results from the California Teachers Study (United States) Cancer Causes Control 13 625–635 Occurrence Handle10.1023/A:1019552126105 Occurrence Handle12296510

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  42. BE Ainsworth AS Leon (1993) ArticleTitleGender differences in self-reported physical activity Med Sci Sports Exerc 23 S105

    Google Scholar 

  43. CM Blanchard V Cokkinides KS Courneya EJ Nehl K Stein F Baker (2003) ArticleTitleA comparison of physical activity of posttreatment breast cancer survivors and noncancer controls Behav Med 28 140–149 Occurrence Handle14663921

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  44. AL Schwartz (1998) ArticleTitlePatterns of exercise and fatigue in physically active cancer survivors Oncol Nurs Forum 25 IssueID3 485–491 Occurrence Handle1:STN:280:DyaK1c3jtVShtQ%3D%3D Occurrence Handle9568604

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  45. CL Rock W Demark-Wahnefried (2002) ArticleTitleNutrition and survival after the diagnosis of breast cancer: a review of the evidence J Clin Oncol 20 3302–3316 Occurrence Handle12149305

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  46. W Demark-Wahnefried BL Peterson EP Winer et al. (2001) ArticleTitleChanges in weight, body composition, and factors influencing energy balance among premenopausal breast cancer patients receiving adjuvant chemotherapy J Clin Oncol 19 2381–2389 Occurrence Handle1:CAS:528:DC%2BD3MXjvVeltbk%3D Occurrence Handle11331316

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  47. W Demark-Wahnefried BK Rimer EP Winer (1997) ArticleTitleWeight gain in women diagnosed with breast cancer J Am Diet Assoc 97 519–526, 529 Occurrence Handle1:STN:280:ByiB1M%2FktlA%3D Occurrence Handle9145091

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  48. C Rock S Flatt V Newman et al. (1999) ArticleTitleFactors associated with weight gain in women after diagnosis of breast cancer J Am Med Assoc 99 1212–1218 Occurrence Handle1:STN:280:DyaK1Mvlt1Sitg%3D%3D

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  49. WA Satariano (1992) ArticleTitleComorbidity and functional status in older women with breast cancer: implications for screening, treatment, and prognosis J Gerontol 47 IssueIDSpec No 24–31 Occurrence Handle1430879

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  50. WA Satariano DR Ragland (1994) ArticleTitleThe effect of comorbidity on 3-year survival of women with primary breast cancer Ann Intern Med 120 104–110 Occurrence Handle1:STN:280:ByuD2sbhslc%3D Occurrence Handle8256968

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  51. DW West WA Satariano DR Ragland RA Hiatt (1996) ArticleTitleComorbidity and breast cancer survival: a comparison between black and white women Ann Epidemiol 6 413–419 Occurrence Handle1:STN:280:ByiD2s3ntVM%3D Occurrence Handle8915472

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  52. M Charlson P Pompei K Alex C MacKenzie (1987) ArticleTitleA new method of classifying prognostic comorbidity in longitudinal stuides: development and validation J Chron Dis 40 373–383 Occurrence Handle10.1016/0021-9681(87)90171-8 Occurrence Handle1:STN:280:BiiC28nlsVc%3D Occurrence Handle3558716

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  53. PA Ganz L Kwan AL Stanton et al. (2004) ArticleTitleQuality of life at the end of primary treatment of breast cancer: first results from the moving beyond cancer randomized trial J Natl Cancer Inst 96 IssueID5 376–387 Occurrence Handle14996859

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  54. PA Ganz GA Greendale L Petersen B Kahn JE Bower (2003) ArticleTitleBreast cancer in younger women: reproductive and late health effects of treatment J Clin Oncol 21 IssueID22 4184–4193 Occurrence Handle14615446

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  55. PA Ganz (1999) ArticleTitleThe quality of life after breast cancer – solving the problem of lymphedema N Engl J Med 340 IssueID5 383–385 Occurrence Handle1:STN:280:DyaK1M7hvFWktg%3D%3D Occurrence Handle9929532

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  56. CH Kroenke B Rosner WY Chen I Kawachi GA Colditz MD Holmes (2004) ArticleTitleFunctional impact of breast cancer by age at diagnosis J Clin Oncol 22 1849–1856 Occurrence Handle15143077

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Additional information

* Address correspondence to: Bette Caan, Dr. PH, Division of Research, Kaiser Permanente Medical Program, 2000 Broadway, Oakland, CA 94612, USA. Ph.: +1-510-891-3719; Fax: +1-510-891-3761; E-mail: Bjc@dor.kaiser.org

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Caan, B., Sternfeld, B., Gunderson, E. et al. Life After Cancer Epidemiology (LACE) Study: A cohort of early stage breast cancer survivors (United States). Cancer Causes Control 16, 545–556 (2005). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10552-004-8340-3

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10552-004-8340-3

Keywords

Navigation