[Quality of life domains affected in women with breast cancer].
OBJECTIVE
This study aimed to investigate the quality of life of women suffering from breast cancer undergoing chemotherapy in public and private health care systems.


METHODS
It is an observational, prospective study with 64 women suffering from breast cancer. Data was collected with two instruments: Quality of Life Questionnaire C30 and Breast Cancer Module BR23. By applying Mann Whitney and Friedman's statistical tests, p values < 0.05 were considered statistically significant.


RESULTS
The significant results in public health care systems were: physical functions, pain symptom, body image, systemic effects and outlook for the future. In private health care systems, the results were sexual, social functions and body image. Women's quality of life was harmed by chemotherapy in both institutions.


CONCLUSIONS
The quality of life of women has been harmed as a result of the chemotherapy treatment in both institutions, but in different domains, indicating the type of nursing care that should be provided according to the characteristics of each group.
Institute of Oncology of Paraná, GEMSA, Curitiba, Paraná, Brazil.
Sabrina Nunes
SN
Garcia
UFPR, Curitiba, Paraná, Brazil.
Michele
M
Jacowski
GEMSA, Curitiba, Paraná, Brazil.
Gisele Cordeiro
GC
Castro
GEMSA, Curitiba, Paraná, Brazil.
Carila
C
Galdino
Department of Statistics, UFPR, Curitiba, Paraná, Brazil.
Paulo Ricardo Bittencourt
PR
Guimarães
Universidade Federal do Paraná, Curitiba, Paraná, Brazil.
Luciana Puchalski
LP
Kalinke
D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001828:Body Image; D001938:Brazil; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000191:economics / Q000523:psychology*; D004644:Emotions; D005221:Fatigue / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D005767:Gastrointestinal Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000523:psychology; D006184:Habits; D016304:Hospitals, Private; D006779:Hospitals, Public; D006801:Humans; D007398:Interpersonal Relations; D008209:Lymphedema / Q000523:psychology; D008875:Middle Aged; D009790:Occupations; D011379:Prognosis; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011788:Quality of Life; D012649:Self Concept; D012725:Sexual Behavior; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
D000970:Antineoplastic Agents