Does Treatment Impact on the Quality of Life in Breast Cancer Patients? A Comparative Study Between Treatments

Abstract BackgroundBreast cancer involves complicated emotional processes. One of the factors that impacts the psychological symptoms and decreases QoL is the side effects of treatment. This study compared the psychological and physical impacts of women with early stages of breast cancer (stages I to III) being treated with chemotherapy versus hormone therapy. This study also intended to identify which symptoms could predict a decrease in quality of life (QoL) and functionality according to the treatment. MethodThis study had a cross-sectional design. The participant sample comprised 129 women with breast cancer (63 receiving chemotherapy and 66 hormone therapy). ResultsSignificant differences were found in groups regarding QoL, functionality, symptomatology (fatigue and nausea), coping strategies, and alexithymia. Furthermore, in patients receiving chemotherapy, both symptomatologies explained the variance in QoL, but only fatigue explained role functioning. For patients receiving hormone therapy, fatigue was the symptom that explained the variance for both QoL and role functioning. ConclusionsThe results confirmed that women undergoing chemotherapy are more physically and psychologically impacted. For both treatments, fatigue was a crucial symptom that affected QoL and role functioning. These results show the need to help women alleviate their psychological symptoms because they can affect their physical condition.