ABSTRACT Objective
Patients with
cancer often undergo multiple extended
treatments that decrease their
quality of life. However, the
quality of life of
women with
breast cancer after they undergo
treatment remains underexplored in
Brazil. Therefore, this study determined sociodemographic, behavioral, and clinical factors related to the post-
treatment quality of life of
women with
breast cancer.
Methods This
cross-sectional study involved 101
women diagnosed with
breast cancer between 2014 and 2016 and treated at a Brazilian Oncology Reference Service. Data were collected from them using
face-to-
face surveys.
Quality of life was evaluated using the European
Organization for the
Research and
Treatment of
Cancer Core
Quality of Life questionnaire (EORTC QLQ-C30) and EORTC
Breast Cancer-specific
Quality of Life questionnaire (EORTC QLQ-BR23). The data collected were analyzed using
Student's t-test and
Mann-Whitney U test. Results The median score on the
global health, functional, and symptom
scales of the EORTC QLQ-C30 was 75.00 (Interquartile range=33.33), 75.99 (Standard deviation [SD]=19.26), and 19.67 (SD=16.91), respectively. The mean score on the functional and symptom
scales of the EORTC QLQ-BR23 was 61.89 (SD=17.21) and 20.12 (SD=16.94), respectively. Furthermore, higher post-
treatment quality of life was found to be associated with being
aged 50 or more, being Black, having eight or more years of
education, having a partner, having a paying job, receiving
treatment from the private healthcare system, having a higher
income, living in the municipality where
healthcare services are availed, engaging in
physical activity, not
smoking, being more religious, having more
social support, not being
overweight, having no comorbidities, and undergoing
lumpectomy. Conclusion Sociodemographic, behavioral, and clinical factors significantly impact the
quality of life of
women who undergo
breast cancer treatment. Implementing interventions that improve
health and reducing inequalities in the access to
healthcare services can improve the
quality of life of these
patients.