Clinical Analysis Of The Relative Factors Of Quality Of Life In Post-operative Breast Cancer Patients

Objectives: To access the quality of life(QOL) in post-operative breast cancer patients and examine the various relative factors.Design and methods: One hundred and sixty six post-operative breast cancer patients, age 25 to 74,were reviewed,who had received treatment at our institution from January 01, 2010 to December 31, 2011.Data for cancer diagnosis, treatment, and behavioral and health characteristics were collected. Arm circumference at different levels was measured to determine the presence of breast cancer-related lymphedema(BCRL). Patients completed an extensive quality of life(QOL) questionnaire at the time of study assessment. The FACT-B +4 quality-of-life instrument was used to assess breast, emotional, functional, physical, and social well-being of post-operative breast cancer patients. Univariate analysis was undertaken by difference comparison and correlation analysis, and multivariable analysis was performed by linear regression to evaluate the impacts of quality of life(QOL) in breast cancer patients who had received Lumpectomy/mastectomy.Results: The actuarial rate of BCRL was 22.7%, and most of patients had mild lymphedema. QOL was scored with a possible range of 39~140, with the higher score indicating better life. The median during follow-up was 114. Multivariate analysis revealed that the relative factors of post-operative breast cancer patients’ quality of life(QOL) was lymphedema(P=0.040), surgical procedures(P=0.022), adjuvant radiotherapy(P=0.035) and degree of education(P=0.045).Conclusions: Greater fear of lymphedema, mastectomy and adjuvant radiotherapy were associated with lower scores on FACT-B + 4. Higher levels of education was associated with higher scores on FACT-B + 4.