Quality of life in women with breast cancer, after surgical intervention, in a city in the zona da mata region in Minas Gerais, Brazil

Abstract

Objectives: To evaluate health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in women with breast cancer, after surgical intervention, attended at the regional Oncology Referral Hospital in Juiz de Fora (MG). Methods: 121 women were evaluated and the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer, Breast Cancer-Specific Quality of Life Questionnaire (EORTC QLC 30 BR23) was applied. After the descriptive analysis, a multiple linear regression model was created. The SPSS 14 was used to build the database and to conduct the analysis. Results: the mean values of the EORTC QLC 30 BR23 showed a tendency for good HRQoL, thus, the functional scale showed the most impairment with the worst mean scores observed. There was statistical significance among the symptoms scale and obese women who underwent adjuvant radiotherapy and those who had a greater number of dissected lymph nodes. The subjective perceptions influenced all the EORTC QLC 30 BR23domains. Conclusions: after controlling the variable by functional hand, and time of surgery, the BMI variables, breast reconstruction, heavy feeling in the arm, range of motion (ROM) reduction of the shoulder, and the tight shirt-sleeve sensation proven capable of explaining HRQoL. HRQoL appears to be relatively good, but negatively influenced by subjective perceptions, in addition to treatment factors.