Resilience and Quality of Life in Breast Cancer Patients.
BACKGROUND
Many studies have shown that a relationship exists between quality of life (QoL) and resilience in breast cancer patients, but few studies present information on the nature of this relationship of resilience on QoL. Our aim was to examine the relationship between resilience and quality of life in breast cancer patients.


METHODS
QoL was measured in 218 consequent breast cancer patients, with EORTC - QLQ Core 30 questionnaire, and EORTC QLQ-BR23. The resilience was measured with Connor Davidson Resilience Scale.


RESULTS
The global quality of life was positively correlated with the levels of resilience (R = 0.39 p < 0.001). All functional scales (physical, role, emotional, cognitive and social functioning was in a positive correlation with resilience. The symptoms severity (fatigue, nausea and vomitus, pain, dyspnea, insomnia, appetite loss, constipation, diarrhea, financial difficulties) was in negative correlation with resilience. Less resilient breast cancer patients reported worse body image and future perspective and suffered from more severe adverse effects of systemic therapy, and arm/breast symptoms.


CONCLUSIONS
Our findings show that psychological resilience affects different aspects of health-related quality of life. More resilient patients have significantly better quality of life in almost all aspects of QoL.
University St. Kliment Ohridski Bitola, Higher Medical School Bitola, Bitola, Republic of Macedonia.
Gordana
G
Ristevska-Dimitrovska
University St. Kliment Ohridski Bitola, Higher Medical School Bitola, Bitola, Republic of Macedonia.
Izabela
I
Filov
University St. Kliment Ohridski Bitola, Higher Medical School Bitola, Bitola, Republic of Macedonia.
Domnika
D
Rajchanovska
Clinical Hospital Dr. Trifun Panovski, Department of Oncology, Bitola, Republic of Macedonia.
Petar
P
Stefanovski
Department of Medical and Experimental Physiology with Anthropology, Medical Faculty, Ss Cyril and Methodius University of Skopje, Skopje, Republic of Macedonia.
Beti
B
Dejanova
Connor Davidson Resilience Scale; EORTC QLQ-C30; breast cancer; quality of life; resilience