Quality of life in patients diagnosed and treated for breast cancer in Uruguay.

Abstract

e24096 Background: Breast cancer (BC) and its treatment can impair patient quality of life (QoL), and those undergoing more aggressive treatments may be more severely impacted. Objective: Assess the level of perception of the QoL of patients treated for BC at the Hospital de Clínicas and the Departmental Hospital of Soriano. Methods: A questionnaire for cancer patients (EORTC, QLQ-C30) and one specific for BC (EORTC QLQ-BR23) were used. Results: A total of 158 patients who had completed chemotherapy treatment at least one year prior to the evaluation were enrolled. The average age was 61 years old. QLQ-C30 questionnaire: the global QoL score (GQOL) was high: 70.9. Patients undergoing breast-conservation surgery (BCS) had better scores in physical and emotional functioning (p < 0.005) and presented less frequently with: pain, constipation and financial difficulties (p < 0.005). Those undergoing sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB) had higher scores for GQOL and for physical, role and social functioning scales (p < 0.001) and had less fatigue, pain, insomnia and financial difficulties (p < 0.005). Questionnaire QLQ-BR23: sexual functioning and sexual enjoyment scales were relatively low. Patients undergoing BCS had better scores on the functional scales: body image and future outlook; and fewer breast symptoms (p < 0.005). Those undergoing SLNB also had better scores on the functional scales for body image and future outlook future and presented less frequently with symptoms (p < 0.005). Conclusions: Patients had high values on the GQOL scale, those undergoing BCS and SLNB had better scores on most functional and problem/symptom scales. The implementation of intervention strategies aimed at improving the quality of life and the physical and emotional care of patients is recommended. Uruguayan BC patients experience high values on the GQOL scale, those undergoing BCS and SLNB had better scores on most functional and problem/symptom scales. Patients undergoing BCS had better scores in physical and emotional functioning and presented less frequently with: pain, constipation and financial difficulties. With respect to the type of axillary surgery received, patients who underwent SLNB had higher scores on the GQOL scale and on the physical, role and social functional scales. The implementation of intervention strategies aimed at improving the quality of life and the physical and emotional care of patients is recommended.