Original scientific paper
Quality of life disorder after mastectomy for breast cancer and the body image changes
Samir Husić
; Centre for palliative care (Hospis), JZU University clinical centre Tuzla, Tuzla, Bosnia and Herzegovina
Morana Brkljačić Žagrović
; Department for social sciences, School of medicine, University of Rijeka, Rijeka, Croatia
Abstract
Aim: To assess life quality in patients after mastectomy due to breast cancer and completed oncological treatment.
Methods: A prospective study was conducted at the Palliative Care unit, University Clinical Center Tuzla, Bosnia and Herzegovina, from May 2006 to May 2007. Thirty-five breast cancer patients who had undergone mastectomy and completed specific oncology treatment were examined. SF-36 scale was used to estimate life quality. T-test and Wilcoxon’s test were used in the statistics. P < 0.05 was considered to be a significant difference.
Results: During the first test mean value of life quality was 0.39 which is in general a good life quality. 31 patients had an average good life quality; 2 had a good life quality and 2 patients had an excellent life quality. The second testing shows a mean value of 0.34 life quality, which is statistically significantly worse in comparison to the first testing 0.39 (p = 0.001) (steam T-test and Wilcoxon’s test). Overall physical health of patients during the first testing amounts to 0.43, which is an average result. The second testing shows the same mean value of overall health of 0.43. The first testing shows a mean value for an overall mental health from 0.31 which is a average result. The second testing shows a mean value of 0.27 which is a deterioration in comparison to the first test (p = 0.001).
Conclusion: Alteration of body image due to the treatment of breast cancer is a source of psycho-social difficulties and deterioration of overall mental health of quality of life.
Keywords
breast cancer; life quality; mastectomy
Hrčak ID:
48842
URI
Publication date:
1.3.2010.
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