EMOTIONAL AND SOCIAL FUNCTIONING ASPECTS OF WOMEN UNDERGOING CHEMOTHERAPY AND MASTECTOMYWITH VARIED TIME ELAPSES FROM TREATMENT COMPLETION

Abstract

The aim of the study was a comparison of two groups of women who suffered from breast cancer in the past, selected on the basis of the time elapsed since treatment completion (<7 and >7 years). The specific areas of interest were the quality of life, sense of control, and level of depression.Results from 37 women were analysed. The average age in the research sample was 57. The study was conducted with the use of EORTC QLQ-C30, MHLC, and Depression Assessment Questionnaire.Women in whose case the time elapsed since the completion of anticancer treatment is no more than 7 years have a more negative assessment of the quality of life aspects, that is physical and social functioning, in comparison to persons in whose case the adaptation time to changes, following cancer and treatment, is longer (more than 7 years). The studied persons with a shorter period elapsed since the completion of anticancer therapy hold stronger beliefs concerning their own influence on their health in comparison to women who have not undergone oncological treatment for at least 7 years. The author’s own research highlights the trend pertaining to the differences in the intensity of experiencing guilt and anxiety between the groups. However, it requires further research involving a larger group of studied patients.Despite the progress in the diagnostics and treatment of breast cancer, patients with this type of cancer still experience long-term subjective difficulties in areas making up their physical, mental, and social well-being. The research proves the differences in functioning of women depending on the time that has elapsed since the completion of anticancer treatment.