The impact of diagnosis and treatment on the quality of life in breast cancer patients.
Over the past years, quality of life (QOL) in patients with breast cancer has continued to be a noteworthy area of research. The diagnosis and management of cancer can have a major impact on every aspect of a patient's QOL. Sixteen women with breast cancer (during chemotherapy and 4 months after adjuvant chemotherapy) and 15 healthy women controls underwent 42-item QOL questionnaire in eight dimensions which assessed general well-being, physical symptoms and activity, sleep disturbance, appetite, sexual dysfunction, cognitive functions, medical interaction, social participation, and work performance. The subjects were asked to choose only one of five predefined constant options, which were scored from one to five in a Likert scale with multiple options, and total QOL scores were obtained. Although the total QOL score was not statistically different between the groups (p > 0.05), general well-being, physical symptoms and activity, and sleep disturbance showed significant regression in breast cancer patients compared to the controls (p < 0.05). Appetite (p < 0.02) and physical symptoms and activity (p < 0.05) significantly improved in the group after chemotherapy compared to the group during chemotherapy.
Ozyilkan
O
O
Department of Internal Medicine, Bayindir Tip Merkezi-Medical Center, Ankara, Turkey.
Baltali
E
E
Tekuzman
G
G
Firat
D
D
D000328:Adult; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000628:therapy; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D017024:Chemotherapy, Adjuvant; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D011788:Quality of Life; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires