Symptom Experience and Quality of Life of Patients with Breast Cancer Receiving Chemotherapy in Bangladesh

Background: The present study was aimed to the relationships between symptom severity and distress and quality of life (QoL) of patients receiving chemotherapy for breast cancer.Objectives and methodology: A total number of 132 patients, attending both In-patient and Out-patient department and fulfilling the recruitment criteria were included in the study. A self-report questionnaire was used to collect data from the eligible participants by the primary investigator. The data were analyzed by using descriptive and inferential statistical tools. Results: On average, the participants of the study experienced seventeen symptoms with moderate level. The level of QoL of the participants was at moderate level (M=2.02, SD=0.39). Among all the subscales, the physical well-being had the lowest score and social well-being had highest score. Symptom experience and quality of life showed significant negative correlation. Conclusion: The patients with breast cancer would experience high symptoms during a 7-day period after receiving chemotherapy of the previous cycle. Nurses need to perform full measurement of multiple symptoms when care for breast cancer patients after the administration of chemotherapy.Bangladesh Journal of Medical Science Vol.15(2) 2016 p.201-206

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Key Factors Contributing to Quality of Life for Breast Cancer Patients in Latvia: Supplementing Quantitative Surveys with Qualitative Interviews

Acta Chirurgica Latviensis ◽

10.2478/v10163-012-0001-0 ◽

2012 ◽

Vol 12 (1) ◽

pp. 3-10 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Agnese Dzērvīte ◽

Maruta Pranka ◽

Tana Lace ◽

Ritma Rungule ◽

Edvins Miklasevics ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Breast Cancer ◽

Quality Of Life ◽

Cancer Patients ◽

Qualitative Interviews ◽

Treatment Strategies ◽

Well Being ◽

University Hospital ◽

Breast Cancer Patients ◽

Key Factors

Summary Introduction. Health related quality of life is a much debated topic in medicine with much quantitative and qualitative research contributing to the understanding of how to improve the lives of patients, yet little has been published in relation to the quality of life of Latvian breast cancer patients. Aim of the Study. To gather base measurements of subjective and objective quality of life factors for breast cancer patients in Latvia and discover which key factors contribute most to quality of life of Latvian breast cancer patients at the start of treatment. Materials and Methods. This paper presents data collected from April 2010 to June 2011 at the Pauls Stradins Clinical University hospital on key factors influencing quality of life for breast cancer patients: health and physical well-being; state of surroundings and environment; social support and functionality; financial state, employment and leisure. Quantitative survey material has been supplemented with insight from qualitative in-depth interviews to better explain the objective and subjective implications for breast cancer patients’ quality of life. Results. Interviewed breast cancer patients rated their quality of life as being average or good at the beginning of treatment. Negative factors contributing to lowered quality of life were mainly linked to patient financial, social and emotional state at the first weeks of treatment and correspond to previous research done in Latvia on quality of life issues. Conclusions. Further follow-up surveys will contribute to the evaluation of breast cancer patients’ needs while undergoing treatment to further improve treatment strategies, especially if validated quality of life measurement surveys were to be implemented in Latvian hospitals.

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Quality of Life and Well-Being of Breast Cancer Patients

Advances in Psychology, Mental Health, and Behavioral Studies - Psycho-Social Perspectives on Mental Health and Well-Being ◽

10.4018/978-1-7998-1185-5.ch004 ◽

2020 ◽

pp. 67-94

Author(s):

Melisa Anderson ◽

Dwayne Tucker ◽

Fabian G. Miller ◽

Kurt Vaz ◽

Lennox Anderson-Jackson ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Breast Cancer ◽

Quality Of Life ◽

Cancer Patients ◽

Negative Impact ◽

Well Being ◽

Treatment Modalities ◽

Physical Aspect ◽

Breast Cancer Patients ◽

Malignant Breast

Breast cancer is a disease in which there is increased proliferation of malignant breast cells. This disease is more likely to begin in the ducts or lobules rather than the connective tissue. Globally, breast cancer is the most regularly diagnosed cancer. It is also a leading cause of cancer-related mortality in females. While cancer of the breast affects the physical aspect of patients, it can also negatively impact the quality of life (QoL) of survivors. There is a dearth of information, especially in the last decade, on the negative impact of breast cancer and treatment modalities on the QoL of patients. This review of the literature will examine the QoL and well-being of breast cancer patients to present a current perspective on the topic. Major findings of past and present articles that have contributed to improving the care of breast cancer patients will be summarized and included.

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Effects of Different Exercise Interventions on Quality of Life in Breast Cancer Patients: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Integrative Cancer Therapies ◽

10.1177/1534735419880598 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 18 ◽

pp. 153473541988059

Author(s):

Tetiana Odynets ◽

Yuriy Briskin ◽

Valentina Todorova

Keyword(s):

Breast Cancer ◽

Quality Of Life ◽

Cancer Patients ◽

Well Being ◽

Breast Cancer Patients ◽

Exercise Interventions ◽

Water Exercise ◽

Group A ◽

Group B

Purpose: The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effects of different exercise interventions on quality of life parameters in breast cancer patients during 1 year of outpatient rehabilitation. Material and Methods: A total of 115 breast cancer patients met the eligibility criteria and completed the study. Participants were randomly allocated for the water exercise interventions (group A, n = 45), for the Pilates exercise interventions (group B, n = 40), and yoga exercise interventions (group C, n = 30). The 3 groups attended relevant programs for 1 year and received 144 rehabilitation sessions. Quality of life parameters were assessed using the Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy questionnaire with a specific module for breast cancer patients (FACT-B). Quality of life data were recorded at baseline and after 6 and 12 months of exercise interventions. Results: A significant increase in quality of life indicators was observed in participants of all groups. Based on the results of the 12-month monitoring, patients of group A scored significantly more points for emotional well-being compared with group B and group C by 1.40 points ( P < .05) and 1.69 points ( P < .01), respectively, as well as by breast cancer subscale by 2.15 points ( P < .05) compared with group B. Patients in group C scored significantly better compared with group A in social/family well-being by 2.80 points ( P < .01). Conclusions: It was found that using water exercise intervention is more effective for improving emotional well-being and decreasing negative symptoms associated with breast cancer treatment compared with Pilates and yoga interventions, while yoga was more effective in improving social/family well-being. Further research on water interventions for different populations is warranted.

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Acceptance of the illness and the quality of life of patients with breast cancer

Polish Journal of Public Health ◽

10.2478/pjph-2014-0001 ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 124 (1) ◽

pp. 5-9

Author(s):

Marzena Kamińska ◽

Tomasz Ciszewski ◽

Agnieszka Bronikowska ◽

Maria Ferańska ◽

Agnieszka Pawlak-Warszawska ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Breast Cancer ◽

Quality Of Life ◽

Hormone Therapy ◽

Endocrine Therapy ◽

Negative Impact ◽

Combined Therapy ◽

Radical Mastectomy ◽

Well Being ◽

Breast Cancer Patients

Abstract Introduction. Breast cancer is the most frequent cancer diagnosed in women. Its treatment is a combined therapy and the sequence and time are established according to the accepted standards in Poland. Consequences posed by this disease include disorder in the physical, mental and social spheres in women. Adapting to cancer is very important for the process of treatment, and the acceptance of the disease is the determinant. Aim. The aim of the study was to determine and compare the degree of acceptance of the illness and the assessment of quality of life among breast cancer patients during cancer treatment. Material and methods. The survey included 85 ill people treated in a conserving way and 94 ill people treated by breast amputation. Patients after the surgical procedure were subjected to adjuvant treatment involving chemotherapy (90 women) and/or endocrine therapy (87 women). The study used standardized questionnaires EORTC (European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer): QLQC-30 and the scale (AIS Approval IIIness Scale). Results. The highest level of acceptance of the disease, so the best ability to adapt to cancer have those women who have undergone radical mastectomy and adjuvant hormone therapy during the treatment. The lowest level of acceptance of the illness, expressed as a negative assessment was observed in women after BCT and during chemotherapy treatment. The use of the EORTC QLQC-30 to assess the overall health and quality of life of patients allowed us to capture statistically significant differences in the percentages stating good health, with the relatively highest negative response rates which were observed in the subgroups treated with chemotherapy and hormone therapy. With regard to the highest quality of life, the percentage of negative responses was observed in subgroups treated with the use of hormone therapy and after mastectomy. Conclusions. Good acceptance of the disease was obtained by women treated for breast cancer who have undergone mastectomy in the course of adjuvant endocrine therapy. The assessment of general health and quality of life was influenced by oncological treatment. Patients during chemotherapy and hormone therapy showed a negative impact of this form of treatment on overall well-being and functioning.Patients after mastectomy and during hormone therapy treatment showed a comparatively lower quality of life compared to a group of patients after BCT and during treatment with chemotherapy

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The effect on quality of life via bio-mimetic hormone replacement therapy for breast cancer patients.

Journal of Clinical Oncology ◽

10.1200/jco.2017.35.7_suppl.113 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 35 (7_suppl) ◽

pp. 113-113

Author(s):

TS Wiley ◽

Jason T. Haraldsen

Keyword(s):

Breast Cancer ◽

Quality Of Life ◽

Hormone Replacement Therapy ◽

Replacement Therapy ◽

Hormone Replacement ◽

Well Being ◽

Post Treatment ◽

Breast Cancer Patients ◽

Long Term Study

113 Background: Many treatments for breast cancer block the estrogen receptors to reduce the risk of relapse. However, this treatment results in massive changes to the normal hormonal milieu. When the normal rhythmic hormonal patterns are disrupted, either through treatment or normal menopause, women typically experience a multitude of harsh symptoms with little affect on relapse rate. We set out to examine and evaluate the effects of estrogen (E2) and progesterone (P4) treatments via a bio-mimetic bio-identical hormone replacement therapy (BBHRT). We theorized, through the analysis of physiological and clinical literature, that the use BBHRT in the normal physiological pattern of reproductive women will lead to an increase of overall well-being and better quality of life for post-treatment and menopausal women, but does not increase their risk of breast cancer. Methods: E2 and P4 control over 9,000 different gene products and a disruption of these processes can lead to an increase in illnesses of aging including cancer. Through an evaluation of current literature, we theorize that a BBHRT approach utilizing E2 and P4 in a bio-mimetic manner to restore a woman’s body to normal hormonal levels can be achieved through twice-daily transdermal applications of hormonal creams with peaks in serum levels on days 12 and 21. The proposed method uses compounded, bio-identical hormones dosed to mimic the female reproductive cycle. Results: While this is a proposed clinical study, it is expected that women will experience resolution of menopausal and post-treatment symptoms, including better sleep, decreased migraines and incontinence, increased focus, and increased libido. By restoring the normal hormonal rhythm, it is anticipated that the body’s natural response elements will help restore both quality of life and well being, while also protecting from possible relapse. Conclusions: We propose a method to provide better quality of life and well being for women through BHRT that combines the use of E2 and P4 in a manner that mimics a woman’s normal reproductive levels. While a small long-term study of this method has shown promising results, we conclude that further, most detailed studies are still needed.

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Randomized Controlled Trial of Yoga Among a Multiethnic Sample of Breast Cancer Patients: Effects on Quality of Life

Journal of Clinical Oncology ◽

10.1200/jco.2006.06.6027 ◽

2007 ◽

Vol 25 (28) ◽

pp. 4387-4395 ◽

Cited By ~ 218

Author(s):

Alyson B. Moadel ◽

Chirag Shah ◽

Judith Wylie-Rosett ◽

Melanie S. Harris ◽

Sapana R. Patel ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Breast Cancer ◽

Quality Of Life ◽

Cancer Patients ◽

Intervention Group ◽

Well Being ◽

Control Group ◽

Breast Cancer Patients ◽

Spiritual Well Being ◽

Multiethnic Sample

Purpose This study examines the impact of yoga, including physical poses, breathing, and meditation exercises, on quality of life (QOL), fatigue, distressed mood, and spiritual well-being among a multiethnic sample of breast cancer patients. Patients and Methods One hundred twenty-eight patients (42% African American, 31% Hispanic) recruited from an urban cancer center were randomly assigned (2:1 ratio) to a 12-week yoga intervention (n = 84) or a 12-week waitlist control group (n = 44). Changes in QOL (eg, Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy) from before random assignment (T1) to the 3-month follow-up (T3) were examined; predictors of adherence were also assessed. Nearly half of all patients were receiving medical treatment. Results Regression analyses indicated that the control group had a greater decrease in social well-being compared with the intervention group after controlling for baseline social well-being and covariates (P < .0001). Secondary analyses of 71 patients not receiving chemotherapy during the intervention period indicated favorable outcomes for the intervention group compared with the control group in overall QOL (P < .008), emotional well-being (P < .015), social well-being (P < .004), spiritual well-being (P < .009), and distressed mood (P < .031). Sixty-nine percent of intervention participants attended classes (mean number of classes attended by active class participants = 7.00 ± 3.80), with lower adherence associated with increased fatigue (P < .001), radiotherapy (P < .0001), younger age (P < .008), and no antiestrogen therapy (P < .02). Conclusion Despite limited adherence, this intent-to-treat analysis suggests that yoga is associated with beneficial effects on social functioning among a medically diverse sample of breast cancer survivors. Among patients not receiving chemotherapy, yoga appears to enhance emotional well-being and mood and may serve to buffer deterioration in both overall and specific domains of QOL.

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Reliability and validity of the Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy-Breast quality-of-life instrument.

Journal of Clinical Oncology ◽

10.1200/jco.1997.15.3.974 ◽

1997 ◽

Vol 15 (3) ◽

pp. 974-986 ◽

Cited By ~ 936

Author(s):

M J Brady ◽

D F Cella ◽

F Mo ◽

A E Bonomi ◽

D S Tulsky ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Breast Cancer ◽

Quality Of Life ◽

Cancer Therapy ◽

Functional Assessment ◽

Performance Status ◽

Well Being ◽

Self Report ◽

Sensitivity To Change ◽

Validity And Reliability

PURPOSE This is the first published report on the validation of the Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy-Breast (FACT-B), a 44-item self-report instrument designed to measure multidimensional quality of life (QL) in patients with breast cancer. The FACT-B consists of the FACT-General (FACT-G) plus the Breast Cancer Subscale (BCS), which complements the general scale with items specific to QL in breast cancer. The FACT-B was developed with an emphasis on patients' values and brevity and is available in nine languages. METHODS AND RESULTS Two validation samples were used for this report. The first (n = 47) was tested twice over a 2-month period to assess sensitivity to change. Significant sensitivity to change in performance status rating (PSR) was demonstrated for the FACT-B total score, the Physical Well-Being (PWB) subscale, the Functional Well-Being (FWB) subscale, and the BCS. Sensitivity to change in QL as measured by the Functional Living Index-Cancer (FLIC) was documented in the FACT-B total score, PWB, FWB, and Emotional Well-Being (EWB). Additional validity and reliability data were obtained from a larger sample (n = 295). The alpha coefficient (internal consistency) for the FACT-B total score was high (alpha = .90), with subscale alpha coefficients ranging from .63 to .86. Evidence supported test-retest reliability, as well as convergent, divergent, and known groups validity. CONCLUSION The FACT-B is appropriate for use in oncology clinical trials, as well as in clinical practice. It demonstrates ease of administration, brevity, reliability, validity, and sensitivity to change.

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Bio-identical hormones replacement therapy and the quality of life for breast cancer patients.

Journal of Clinical Oncology ◽

10.1200/jco.2015.33.28_suppl.87 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 33 (28_suppl) ◽

pp. 87-87

Author(s):

TS Wiley

Keyword(s):

Breast Cancer ◽

Quality Of Life ◽

Replacement Therapy ◽

Clinical Symptoms ◽

Hormone Replacement ◽

Well Being ◽

Normal Serum ◽

Breast Cancer Patients ◽

The Impact

87 Background: Many treatments for breast cancer block the estrogen receptor or the androgen conversion of estrogen to reduce the risk of relapse. This results in a change in the hormonal milieu. Although most women tolerate the change in hormonal status, problems can arise from this change. Without estrogen, clinical symptoms include hot flashes, sleeplessness, insulin sensitivity, and mood changes. Here, it is examined that the use of estrogen and progesterone bio-identical hormone replacement therapy (BHRT) for women in the normal physiological pattern of reproductive women is expected to coincide with increased well-being and better quality of life for women with breast cancer. Methods: This BHRT approach uses bio-identical estrogen and progesterone to restore the woman’s body to normal serum levels through twice daily transdermal application. Using real “bio-identical” or plant-derived human molecular hormones compounded via a standard formula, concentration, and packaging of transdermal creams (Estradiol E2) of 1 mg/0.1ml and progesterone P4 of 20 mg/0.1 ml). Furthermore, through an understanding of hormonal mechanisms, this BHRT mimics the female reproductive cycle by following a 28 day cycle. Results: Throughout the study, women were asked to how gauge their general well-being and quality of life. Most women reported resolution of menopausal symptoms, better sleep, decreased migraines and incontinence, increased focus, and increased libido. Most patients were pleased to be on the treatment and showed general improvement in the quality of life. Conclusions: We present the general mechanisms of action for BHRT and explain clinical trials conducted over the past decade have been examining the impact on the overall well-being and quality of life for 112 patients, as well as the impact on various cancers as well as other chronic conditions. Patients reported increased energy and overall well-being. BHRT provided resolution of most all of the patients subjective anti-estrogenic complaints. It is also observed that the recurrence rate of various breast cancers was no higher than national averages. Therefore, BHRT and rhythmic dosing seems to greatly improve well-being with no increase of cancer risk.

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