The quality of life, general health, and pain sensations after treatment in the assessment of breast cancer patients

Abstract

Introduction: General quality of life, health, and sensation of pain caused by cancer are connected with the physical, mental and social state of a human being. Aim of the study: The aim of the study is self-assessment of life quality, general health, and pain sensations in breast cancer patients after adjuvant therapy with chemo-and radiotherapy. Material and methods: The study was carried out in 2016 at the Professor Franciszek Łukaszczyk Oncology Clinic in Bydgoszcz. 56 women with breast cancer were qualified for the study, upon completion of treatment. Socio-demographic and clinical data was used, questions 29 and 30 from the QLQ C30 questionnaire, and the Memorial Pain Assessment Card. Results: Generally, the average self-assessment of health and life quality was 4.98 and 5.18 points, respectively. Age, education, marital status and the place of residence did not have any influence on the self-assessment of health and life quality (p > 0.05). 46 women (82.1%) did not take analgesics. Those patients who did not take analgesics assessed their health and life quality better, with the average scores of 5.3 and 5.63 points, respectively. The average for pain intensity was 2.05 on a 0-11 scale. Most women-14 (25%)-assessed their mood as very good. The mood average was 2.91 points. Only the administration of analgesics influenced the mood score (p = 0.001). Conclusions: Women with breast cancer after radical treatment assess their health and life quality as good. Those not taking analgesics assess their health and life quality better and are decidedly in a better mood than those taking such medications. Socio-demographic factors do not influence self-assessment of health, life quality, or pain intensity.

Psycho-Oncological Aspects of the Functioning of Women Who Have Breast Cancer: Discussion of the Author’s Research

“…Non-analgesics assess the health and quality of life better and have a better mood than those using such drugs. Sociodemographic factors do not affect the self-assessment of health, quality of life and the intensity of pain [2].…”