ssessing the Psychological effect of breast cancer on the patients’ quality of life

A cancer diagnosis has tremendous consequences for most persons who experience it. In the case of breast cancer the treatment usually consists of surgery, radiotherapy, chemotherapy, and hormonal treatment. All these factors may, impact the patients quality of life. It has been shown thatassessing QOL in cancer patients could contribute to improved treatment and could even be as prognostic as medical factors. This study reviews psychosocial implications in breast cancer patients and its association with QOL. Material and methods: We searched the PubMed, Google Scholar, BMC journal, Cochrane library, and Uptodate databases and the keywords were breast cancer, quality of life, Psychological distress andtreatment. Results: Women with breast cancer may experience distinct psychosocial related concerns, anxiety, depression, low emotional functioning, weight gain, physical inactivity, and unhappiness with appearance, feeling less useful in life, uncertainty about the future, psychological distress related to family distress, diagnosis, treatment, and necessity for regular aftercare visits, negative feelings, social avoidance, distress about the family s future, infertility, premature menopause, diagnosis of disease, fears of death, suffering, disease recurrence, sense of aloneness, social concerns included interference with activities at home, employment, and financial burden, concerns regarding payment for the healthcare costs, impairment of body image, alteration of femininity, sexuality , attractiveness, difficulties in occupational tasks, organizing leisure time activities, and pursuing their hobbies are factors that can cause unexpected psychological distress even years after diagnosis and treatment. Psychological factors also were found to predict subsequent quality of life or even overall survival in breast cancer patients. Supportive care: interventions such as counseling, providing social support and exercise could improve quality of life. Short-term positive changes in fatigue, trait anxiety, depression,and QoL was seen following cognitive behavioral therapy for insomnia in Breast Cancer Survivours. Physical Activity had beneficial effects on health, physical strength, sexuality, relationships, and social functioning. For many survivors, pregnancy and parenthood can represent normalcy, happiness and life fulfillment.Conclusions: More attention to Psychological factors could improve QOL in women with breast cancer.

Keywords:

breast cancer , quality of life , treatment , Psychological distress