title: Psychosocial aspect of quality of life of Polish women with breast cancer.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Breast cancer is one of the most frequently occurring malignant tumours among women in Poland. The highest incidence of the disease is registered among women aged 50 and more. Cancer imposes a considerable psychological strain on a woman. It causes a sense of uncertainty about one's health and further life, as well as frequent problems with accepting the image of one's own body. It often results in low self-esteem and a feeling of embarrassment, accompanied by symptoms of apathy and detachment. The aim of the study was to determine mental and social life quality of Polish women treated for breast cancer.
  
  
  METHODS
  The research encompassed 107 women aged between 45 and 65 (SD=6.11) undergoing treatment for breast cancer. The WHOQOL-Bref scale was applied in the research.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The social field was better evaluated in comparison with the mental sphere. There was a statistical correlation between place of residence and social sphere of quality of life (p=,036), with higher ratings assigned by respondents residing in rural areas (M=15.36) compared with residents of towns (M=14.15).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Given the fact that respondents were coping with cancer or its consequences, paradoxically, perception of the overall quality of life and examined areas was generally good, especially among women with higher education, those who were single and those living in rural areas. Along with age, there decreases at the respondents the experienced quality of life, however a rise of evaluations of the mental sphere is accompanying the rise in the education level.
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Nursing and Health Sciences, Medical University of Lublin, Poland.
authors.forename: Anna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Pacian
authors.forename: Teresa Bernadetta
authors.initials: TB
authors.lastname: Kulik
authors.forename: Jolanta
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Pacian
authors.forename: Paweł
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Chruściel
authors.forename: Dorota
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Żołnierczuk-Kieliszek
authors.forename: Mirosław Jerzy
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Jarosz
mesh_terms: D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000523:psychology* / Q000628:therapy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008603:Mental Health; D008875:Middle Aged; D011044:Poland; D011788:Quality of Life / Q000523:psychology*; D012931:Social Environment; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D016387:Women's Health