title: Change in Quality of Life Measured over Time in Czech Women with Breast Cancer.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  This study examined the impact of breast cancer on quality of life (QOL) of Czech women by comparing the QOL of breast cancer patients with that of age-matched healthy controls.
  
  
  METHODS
  The sample consisted of 74 breast cancer patients who filled in self-assessment questionnaires retrospectively before treatment and at the time of the study. In addition, 73 healthy controls completed the same battery of questionnaires. QOL was assessed using the Rand 36-Item Health Survey, the Life Satisfaction Questionnaire, and the Czech research version of Functional Assessment of Breast Cancer Therapy. The Wilcoxon paired test and Mann-Whitney U test were used for data analysis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A statistically significant decline in QOL in breast cancer patients was found for the following components: Physical Functioning (p = 0.021), Role Functioning-Physical (p < 0.001), Bodily Pain (p = 0.001), General Health (p = 0.031), Role Functioning-Emotional (p = 0.023), and Physical Well-being (p = 0.001). The only significant increase over time was observed in Social/Family Well-being (p = 0.024). For most of the components, patients showed a statistically significant lower QOL than that of healthy controls. A recent diagnosis, advanced disease stage, more comorbidities, a higher BMI, and other sociodemographic characteristics were associated with a higher incidence of a lower QOL over time.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Perceived QOL decreased over time in breast cancer patients mainly in components such as physical and emotional functioning, bodily pain, and general health, with several risk factors strongly influencing this change. The QOL of patients was lower than that of the non-cancer population, indicating that subsequent care should be improved to minimize the adverse effects that breast cancer has on QOL.
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Anderkova
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Elfmarková
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Svěrák
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Peterkova
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Brancikova
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bendová
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Protivánková
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Benesova
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Dusek
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Jarkovský
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Minar
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Skrivanova
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D015992:Body Mass Index; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology / Q000523:psychology*; D004644:Emotions; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D011788:Quality of Life