title: Quality of life of breast and cervical cancer survivors.
abstract: Breast and cervical cancer are the most common cancers affecting women. The symptom distresses experienced by cancer survivors are critical factors influencing their quality of life (QOL). This study investigated the QOL of breast and cervical cancer survivors, their physical, psychological and social conditions.
  
  
  
  The participants were older than 20 years, had been diagnosed with breast or cervical cancer for more than 2 years, and had completed their cancer treatment. The survey incorporated the QOL questionnaires developed by the European Organization of Research and Treatment for Cancer and a self-designed questionnaire.
  
  
  
  The mean age at diagnosis was 48.89 ± 8.53 years for the breast cancer survivors and 49.00 ± 10.30 years for the cervical cancer survivors. The corresponding QOL scores were 75.33 ± 20.25 and 75.56 ± 17.93. The factors influencing QOL of breast cancer survivors were household income, number of comorbidities, stage of cancer, type of cancer treatment and duration of illness, whereas the factor related to QOL of cervical cancer survivors was only household income.
  
  
  
  The QOL of the two groups was similar. Healthcare providers should demonstrate greater concern toward breast and cervical cancer survivors.
authors.affiliation: Department of Anesthesia, Chung Shan Medical University Hospital, Taichung, Taiwan, Republic of China.|Department of Healthcare Administration, Asia University, 500, Lioufeng Road, Wufeng, Taichung, 413, Taiwan, Republic of China.
authors.forename: Huei-Ying
authors.initials: HY
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.affiliation: Department of Health Service Administration, China Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan, Republic of China.
authors.forename: Wen-Chen
authors.initials: WC
authors.lastname: Tsai
authors.affiliation: Department of Health Service Administration, China Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan, Republic of China.
authors.forename: Wen-Yu
authors.initials: WY
authors.lastname: Chou
authors.affiliation: Department of Gynecologic Oncology, China Medical University Hospital, Taichung, Taiwan, Republic of China.
authors.forename: Yao-Ching
authors.initials: YC
authors.lastname: Hung
authors.affiliation: Department of Breast Surgery, China Medical University Hospital, Taichung, Taiwan, Republic of China.
authors.forename: Liang-Chih
authors.initials: LC
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.affiliation: Cancer Center, Chi Mei Hospital, Tainan, Taiwan, Republic of China.
authors.forename: Kuo-Feng
authors.initials: KF
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.affiliation: Department of General surgery, Chi Mei Hospital, Tainan, Taiwan, Republic of China.
authors.forename: Wen-Ching
authors.initials: WC
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Dental Department, Yuan's General Hospital, Kaohsiung, Taiwan, Republic of China.
authors.forename: Kam-Wing
authors.initials: KW
authors.lastname: Leung
authors.affiliation: Division of Hematology and Oncology, Department of Internal Medicine, Mackay Memorial Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan, Republic of China.
authors.forename: Ruey-Kuen
authors.initials: RK
authors.lastname: Hsieh
authors.affiliation: Department of Healthcare Administration, Asia University, 500, Lioufeng Road, Wufeng, Taichung, 413, Taiwan, Republic of China. ptkung@asia.edu.tw.|Department of Medical Research, China Medical University Hospital, China Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan, Republic of China. ptkung@asia.edu.tw.
authors.forename: Pei-Tseng
authors.initials: PT
authors.lastname: Kung
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000523:psychology*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D011594:Psychometrics / Q000295:instrumentation; D011788:Quality of Life / Q000523:psychology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D017741:Survivors / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D002583:Uterine Cervical Neoplasms / Q000523:psychology*
keywords: Breast cancer; Cancer survivors; Cervical cancer; Quality of life