Impact of Surgery Type on Quality of Life in Breast Cancer Patients

Abstract

Objective: Breast cancer can lead to alterations in quality of life of the patients. The aim of this study is to evaluate the changes in quality of life of the female patients who had undergone surgical treatment for breast cancer. Materials and Methods:A total of 250 female patients (breast-preserving surgery (BPS), n=27, 11%; modified radical mastectomy (MRM), n=194, 77%, and simple mastectomy (SM), n=29; 11%) aged between 28-55 years (47.4±6.4 yrs) were included in the study. Patient information, demographic characteristics, income, and treatment modalities applied were recorded. Validated Turkish versions of EORTC QLQ-C30, and EORTC-BR23 questionnaires were used for all patients.Results: Breast-preserving surgery has a more favorable impact on general well-being, physical role, cognitive, psychological, and social functions, and symptom scale scores. When the identical parameters were taken into consideration, relatively favorable outcomes of BPS on the patients were observed relative to mastectomized patients. Besides, though not statistically significant, BPS has more patient-friendly effects on sexual function and sexual satisfaction in comparison with mastectomy. Patients with advanced stage disease and elder patients had more unfavorable health related quality of life (HRQoL) scores than younger patients, and those in their early stages of breast cancer. Conclusion:Quality of life of BPS patients is less adversely affected relative to mastectomized patients. In the decision-making process, quality of life should be taken into consideration.

A Review on Quality of Life in Cancer Patients: An Indian Scenario

“…According to WHO, Quality of life (QOL) is defined as 'individuals' perception of life, values, objectives, standards, and interests in the framework of culture 1,19 of the social environment in which they live and in relation to their goals, expectations, standards and concerns 5 . It is a multidimensional construct that includes several aspects of life such as physical health status, psychological wellbeing including people's emotion, social and cognitive functioning and take into account impact of disease and treatment based on patient's life experiences 6,11,12 .…”

“…When the hopes of an individual are fulfilled by experience in accordance to their goals, expectations, standards and concerns, he is said to be having a good quality of ife 19 and it is usually expressed in terms of satisfaction, contentment, happiness and fulfilment and the ability to cope impact of illness and treatment 20 . Quality of life should be taken into account so that it can help in selecting more suitable treatment alternatives 5 .…”

“…Validated Turkish versions of EORTC QLQ-C30, and EORTC-BR23 questionnaires were used for all patients. The study concluded that MRM group was found to be more adversely affected than the BPS group 5 . In a similar study performed by Dubashi et al (2010), overall QOL in younger patients with breast cancer appeared to be overall good.…”

“…Cancer is a major public health concern in India with 1.01 million new cancer cases per year, indicating India as a single country contributing to 7.8% of the global cancer burden 1,5 . Incidence of cancer in India varies from 44-122 per 100,000 populations in males and 52-128 per 100,000 populations in females 5 Review Article cities of India is shown in FIGURE 2 9 .…”

“…It is a group of diseases that occurs due to uncontrolled growth and proliferation of abnormal cells which can even lead to death if not controlled 2,4 . It also leads to physical inadequacies and psychological problems with periods of remission and exacerbations 5 . Current dogma states that cancer is a multi-gene, multi-step disease which originates from a single abnormal cell (clonal origin) with an altered DNA sequence also known as mutation 2 .…”