Abstract
Abstract Objectives: To evaluate health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in women with breast cancer, after surgical intervention, attended at the regional Oncology Referral Hospital in Juiz de Fora (MG). Methods: 121 women were evaluated and the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer, Breast Cancer-Specific Quality of Life Questionnaire (EORTC QLC 30 BR23) was applied. After the descriptive analysis, a multiple linear regression model was created. The SPSS 14 was used to build the database and to conduct the analysis. Results: the mean values of the EORTC QLC 30 BR23 showed a tendency for good HRQoL, thus, the functional scale showed the most impairment with the worst mean scores observed. There was statistical significance among the symptoms scale and obese women who underwent adjuvant radiotherapy and those who had a greater number of dissected lymph nodes. The subjective perceptions influenced all the EORTC QLC 30 BR23domains. Conclusions: after controlling the variable by functional hand, and time of surgery, the BMI variables, breast reconstruction, heavy feeling in the arm, range of motion (ROM) reduction of the shoulder, and the tight shirt-sleeve sensation proven capable of explaining HRQoL. HRQoL appears to be relatively good, but negatively influenced by subjective perceptions, in addition to treatment factors.
Highlights
World widely, breast cancer is the most frequent tumor in women, accounting for 25% of the neoplasms of this population group in 2012
The deterioration that the diagnosis and treatment of breast cancer brings to a woman's quality of life (QoL) has been evident in many studies in recent years, in the context of morbidities, and in relation to psychosocial aspects such as the fear of recurrence or even death, difficulties in carrying on daily life activities, changes in body image, sexual dysfunction, and changes in thelifestyle.[4]
The technological advances for breast cancer in the diagnosis and treatment have increased the survival of patients with cancer, that is, adding years to one's life, but this does not add life to the years,[4] placing value on a relevant research aspect in recent times: The quality of life of patients with breast neoplasia after surgical intervention.[5]
Summary
Breast cancer is the most frequent tumor in women, accounting for 25% of the neoplasms of this population group in 2012. In Brazil, failures in screening strategies and difficulties to access treatment lead to late diagnosis in advanced tumor stages,[2,3] resulting in a more aggressive surgical approach as the most recommended therapeutic alternative and, an increase in the physical, psychological, and social sequelae.[4]. The deterioration that the diagnosis and treatment of breast cancer brings to a woman's quality of life (QoL) has been evident in many studies in recent years, in the context of morbidities, and in relation to psychosocial aspects such as the fear of recurrence or even death, difficulties in carrying on daily life activities, changes in body image, sexual dysfunction, and changes in thelifestyle.[4].
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