Functioning on the psychophysical level and the quality of life of people suffering from oncological diseases

Introduction : The aim of this research was to define the relations between a treatment type and the quality of life of people suffering from oncological diseases, and to examine factors differentiating the ill’s quality of life at the level of physical, cognitive, emotional and social functioning, taking into account cause and symptom treatment.

Material and methods : The research focusing on the quality of life was conducted in two groups of patients whose division depended on a treatment type and care they were exposed to. 80 patients took part in the research. The first group consisted of forty patients who were subject to cause treatment, undergoing chemotherapy at that time. The patients in the latter group were subject to symptom treatment, in the care of a home hospice. The research used a tool for measuring the quality of life – EORTC QLQ-C30.

Results and conclusions : The research results show that the quality of life of patients treated for the underlying causes of their symptoms does not differ from the quality of life of patients treated solely for their symptoms, and only patients’ social functioning differentiates the groups. The study also shows that the quality of life of cancer patients correlates with their physical, social, cognitive and emotional functioning.