The influence of radiotherapy on the quality-of-life assessment of patients with breast cancer

Introduction
Breast cancer is a disease from which there is a high chance of recovery if it is detected early and proper therapeutic treatment is undertaken. Radiotherapy is one of the methods of local treatment of malignancies, using ionizing radiation. It is often the method of choice among women with breast cancer. Radiotherapy, like other methods of oncological treatment, can cause side effects that may reduce the patients’ quality of life.

Aim of the research
The assessment of influence of radiotherapy on the quality of life of patients with breast cancer.

Material and methods
The research method was a diagnostic survey, while the technique was a survey. The research tool was the author’s questionnaire. The EORTC QLQ-C30 questionnaire was used to measure the quality of life. The study included 88 women treated at the Oncology Department of the Centre of Oncology of the Lublin Region. The Fisher test and the c² test were used in the statistical analysis.

Results and conclusions
Patients treated with radiotherapy were satisfied with the effects of treatment. There were no differences in the assessment of the quality of life before and after radiotherapy treatment. In the studied group of patients, the overall severity of individual symptoms significantly affects the quality of life of women with breast cancer.