- © 2013 Marshfield Clinic
Breast and Prostate Cancer Survivors in a Diabetic Cohort: Results from the Living With Diabetes Study
- Adedayo A. Onitilo, MD, MSCR*,†⇑,
- Maria Donald, PhD*,
- Rachel V. Stankowski, PhD‡,
- Jessica M. Engel, DNP, FNP-BC§,
- Gail Williams, MSc, PhD* and
- Suhail A. R. Doi, MD, PhD*
- *School of Population Health, University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
- †Department of Hematology/Oncology, Marshfield Clinic, Weston Center, Weston, Wisconsin, USA
- ‡Marshfield Clinic Research Foundation, Marshfield, Wisconsin, USA
- §Marshfield Clinic Cancer Care at St. Michael’s, Stevens Point, Wisconsin USA
- Corresponding Author: Adedayo A. Onitilo, MD, MSCR, FACP, Marshfield Clinic Weston Center, 3501 Cranberry Boulevard, Weston, WI 54476, Tel: 715-393-1400, Fax: 715-393-1399, Email: onitilo.adedayo{at}marshfieldclinic.org
Abstract
Objective Diabetes is more common in cancer survivors than in the general population. The objective of the present study was to determine cancer frequency in a cohort of patients with diabetes and to examine demographic, clinical, and quality of life differences between cancer survivors and their cancer-free peers to inform better individualized care.
Methods Self-reported survey data from 3,466 registrants with type 2 diabetes from Australia’s National Diabetes Services Scheme (NDSS) were analyzed to compare relevant variables between cancer survivors and cancer-free patients. Analyses were focused on breast and prostate cancer to reflect the most common cancers in women and men, respectively.
Results Five percent of diabetic women reported a history of breast cancer and 4.2% of men reported a history of prostate cancer. Diabetic patients with a history of breast or prostate cancer were older at time of survey and diabetes diagnosis, less likely to report metformin use (women), and more likely to have two or more comorbidities than their cancer-free peers. More diabetic prostate cancer survivors also reported problems with mobility and performing usual tasks. However, cancer-free diabetic subjects reported a lower diabetes-dependent quality of life than diabetic cancer survivors. There was no association between cancer survivorship and duration of diabetes, indices of glycemic control, obesity, or diabetic complications.
Conclusions Cancer survivors comprise a significant minority of diabetic patients that are particularly vulnerable and may benefit from interventions to increase screening and treatment of other comorbidities and promote a healthy lifestyle.
