[Assessing the quality of life of young women and their partners: a pertinent approach to the study of breast cancer].
Over the past twenty years, oncology has taken into account the study of patient's quality of life. This article offers a review of the quality of life questionnaires that are currently being used in cancerology: QLQC-30 and its modules, FLIC, FACT-G and its modules, BIS, SF-36. Among these evaluation tools, two questionnaires which have been validated in French can be used to evaluate the quality of life of women suffering from breast cancer: QLQBR-23 and FACT-B. However, these two questionnaires target the quality of life of women suffering from breast cancer in general without taking into account the specific characteristics of these women and their past experiences; such as their age or their family's situation. It seems important to study which topics could be specific to young women at the time of diagnosis (education or desire for a child [ren], couple relationship, professional life), all of which are important issues for women in this situation. Besides, there appears to be no questionnaire which specifically evaluates the partner's quality of life, even though he is frequently the first source of support for these women. Directions for future research will be suggested based on the necessity of having specific measures of the quality of life of the young woman suffering from breast cancer and her partner. Such a tool could be useful in a clinical setting within the context of the care of these young women with particular profiles.
Fournier
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E
Université Lille-Nord de France, Lille, France.
Christophe
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V
Vanlemmens
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L
D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000523:psychology* / Q000628:therapy; D002648:Child; D002668:Child Rearing; D005191:Family Characteristics; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007398:Interpersonal Relations; D011788:Quality of Life; D012944:Social Support; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D029181:Spirituality; D018454:Spouses; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult