ASSESSMENT OF QUALITY OF LIFE IN BREAST CANCER PATIENTS - USING FACT-G, SF-36 AND QLQ-C30 QUESTIONNAIRES

Abstract

Background: The assessment and improvement of Quality of life (QoL) of breast cancer and other diseases patients have been of great concern for a long time. This research is to assessing the QoL of breast cancer patients using the popular and recommended instruments, the FACT-G, SF-36 and QLQ-C30 (including QLQ-BR23). Methods and Materials: A cross-sectional descriptive study on breast cancer patients receiving surgical, chemotherapy and radiotherapy, using FACT-G, SF-36 and QLQ-C30 to evaluate their quality of life. The assessment is mainly based on the patients’ own feelings. Results: Average age: 48.4±13.1. Most patients in the sample are from stage IIA to stage IIIB (TNM Cancer Staging, by AJCC 2010). Quality of life index using FACT-G is 60.6±5.1, using SF-36 is 46.5±11.0 in physical health and 53.1±14.8 in mental health, using QLQ-C30 is 53.1±21.0. Conclusion: The QoL assessment by using these instruments shows results mostly in average on many aspects. The screening needs to be improved for better early-detection and treatment, especially in mental care. Quality of life of breast cancer patients reasearches should be paid more attention and widely expanded.