Quality of life after treatment for breast cancer

Abstract

The impact of breast cancer and its treatment and quality of life issues have become increasingly important as the number of newly diagnosed patients with cancer increases and survival rates are improving both locally and even worldwide. Therefore, it is assumed that during the coming decades, there will be an increase in the number of survivors. Consequently, quality-of-life considerations are becoming important issues in treatment and recovery. Since locally no data was found on the effects of treatment on patients' quality of life, the study aimed to investigate the patients' quality of life at the end of treatment for breast cancer. A descriptive design was chosen to carry out this study. Convenience sampling was used and ten participants that fit the inclusion criteria were chosen to participate. Three aspects of quality of life including physical well-being, social relationships and social activities and the participants' adjustments to side effects of treatment and effectiveness of treatment as perceived by the participants, were addressed in the semi-structured interviews Findings suggested that the majority of participants feel that their life is back to normal as prior to treatment, yet this was rather functional as there were still problems that were still present such as altered self-image and arm problems. The most common problems encountered that affected the participants' quality of life included arm problems, lifting and specific side effects of treatment that included alopecia and fatigue. Several recommendations were made for practice and for further research.