Quality of life in breast cancer patients treated with cytostatics

Aim of the study
To assess the life quality in breast cancer patients treated with cytostatics.

Material and methods
A group of 80 patients with breast cancer treated with complementary chemotherapy method, hospitalised in the Oncology Ward of the Medical Centre in Pleszew, were examined. The study used questionnaires to assess quality of life: EORTC QLQ-C30 and EORTC QLQ-BR23. Non-parametric tests (Mann-Whitney and Kruskal-Wallis) were used to check the significance of differences in the level of life quality.

Results
The assessment of the overall life quality in women treated with chemotherapy method on a scale of 1 (very poor) to 7 (excellent) ranged between 2 and 7. The mean value was 4.04 ±1.06. Half of the patients rated their quality of health at no more than 4, and half of the patients at no less than 4. Analysis of the general state of health and life quality in the examined group of women revealed that the patients had an average overall state of health and quality of life (average: 49.7 ±5.8, median: 50).

Conclusions
Women with breast cancer rated cognitive and physical performance the highest, emotional the lowest. The respondents rated the quality of life below average; the aspect of their own body image was rated the highest, and the perspective of their own health and sexual functioning were the lowest. Sociodemographic factors did not differentiate the assessment of the quality of life of the respondents, except for marital status.