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Psicologia, Saúde & Doenças

Print version ISSN 1645-0086

Abstract

REBELO, Virgínia; ROLIM, Luísa; CARQUEJA, Eduardo  and  FERREIRA, Silva. Evaluation of the quality of life in women with breast cancer: an exploratory study of 60 portuguese women. Psic., Saúde & Doenças [online]. 2007, vol.8, n.1, pp.13-32. ISSN 1645-0086.

Abstract: The aim of this study was to evaluate the quality of life in 60 Portuguese women diagnosed with breast cancer, who were already submitted to surgery (mastectomy or tumorectomy), and are presently undergoing chemotherapy treatment at Hospital de São João (Porto, Portugal). The European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Questionnaire (EORTC QLQ-C30) and Supplementary Questionnaire Breast Cancer Module (QLQ-BR23) have been administrated. It has been observed that women submitted to tumorectomy showed signs of a more negative "perception of body image" (BRBI) and a greater "concern with hair loss" (BRHL) than mastectomized women (subscales of the QLQ-BR23). The group submitted to chemotherapy with FEC showed more physical problems, in different subscales of the EORTC QLQ-C30 and QLQ-BR23, as compared to the group that was undergoing treatment with CMF. Older women revealed a greater quality of life than younger women when evaluated in their "physical functioning" (PF2), "sexual functioning" (BRSEF) and "sexual enjoyment" (BRSEE). It has been verified that married women revealed more problems in relation to the "physical functioning" (PF2) and symptoms such as "diarrhea" (DI). On the other hand, unmarried women revealed greater concern with their health in the future and with a better "sexual functioning" (BRSEF).

Keywords : Chemotherapy and breast cancer; Physical and psychological symptoms of breast cancer; Psychologic effects on diagnosis breast cancer; Quality of Life; Breast cancer.

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