Quality of Life of Emirati Women With Breast Cancer

Background: This study examined the quality of life of Emirati women with breast cancer (BC). Methods: This study was a population-based study of a random sample of 250 Emirati women with BC. Quality of life (QoL) was assessed using the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Cancer-Specific version (EORTC QLQ-C30, v.3.0) and the EORTC QoL Breast Cancer-Specific version (EORTC QLQ-BR23) translated into Arabic. Results: The mean age and median age of the 250 participants were 53.4 (SD ±11.3) and 52 years, respectively.Participants had a mean global health score of 74.73 (SD ±18.25), with a minimum of 16.67, indicating a good level of wellbeing.On the QLQ-C30, the Emirati women seemed to perform well on the functional scales but poorly on the symptom scales. While social functioning scored the highest (82.33 ±28.38) among the functional scales, emotional functioning scored the lowest (68.43 ±30.02). The most worrying symptom was sleep disturbance (47.87±38.46), followed by fatigue (38.18±30.31) and pain (29.13±28.01). Financial impact scored the lowest, indicating that most women did not have financial issues related to their cancer.On the QLQ-BR23, we found that participants performed above average to very good on the functional scales but poorly on the symptom scales. While sexual functioning scored the highest (86.07±22.61) among the functional scales, future perspective scored the lowest (50.80±37.92). The most worrying symptom was upset by hair loss (61.01±37.35), followed by arm symptoms (33.73±28.08). Conclusions: Emirati BC survivors reported good QoL overall. The most bothersome symptoms were sleep disturbance, fatigue, pain, hair loss and arm symptoms. Emirati women scored average on all functional scales, which indicates mediocre functioning, but high on the symptom scales, which indicates worse symptoms. Factors associated with a decline in the domains of QoL included age, income, education, metastases, mastectomy, and lymph node dissection. Recommendations to address these issues are discussed. Trial Registration: NA