Do chronological age and selected socio-demographic factors affect quality of life in females with breast cancer?

Magdalena Skrzypczak; Piotr Łaski; Urszula Czerniak; Witold Kycler

doi:10.2478/v10044-008-0014-4

Authors

Magdalena Skrzypczak Department of Human Biological Development, Faculty of Biology, Adam Mickiewicz University, Umultowska 89, 61-614 Poznań, Poland
Piotr Łaski Greater Poland Cancer Centre, Garbary 15, 61-866 Poznań, Poland
Urszula Czerniak Department of Anthropology and Biometrics, Eugeniusz Piasecki University School of Physical Education, Królowej Jadwigi 27/39, 61-871 Poznań, Poland
Witold Kycler Greater Poland Cancer Centre, Garbary 15, 61-866 Poznań, Poland

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.2478/v10044-008-0014-4

Keywords:

cancer survivors, mastectomy, life satisfaction, stress coping

Abstract

The main aim of this study is to determine whether chronological age and selected socio-demographic factors affect quality of life in females with breast cancer. The sample group consisted of 145 females between 32.0 and 84.4 years of age, after radical surgery treatment, chemotherapy, radiotherapy and undergoing hormonotherapy. The results indicate no significant differences between individuals varied by chronological age, and by place of residence. The time elapsed since the diagnosis was a significant differentiating factor in terms of the self-reported extent of positive emotions, cognitive problems and sexual functioning. Higher educated females were more inclined to social avoidance and more severely affected by fatigue - those with partners more so than single ones. The distress related to the disease and its treatment degrades the patients' quality of life so severely that other factors, such as socio-demographic, chronological age or period since diagnosis, do not play as an important role in a subjective evaluation of quality of life. One needs to be cognizant of the variety of coexisting factors, including psychological and characterological, that contribute to the quality of life evaluation.

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.

References

Andrykowski M. A., S. L. Currun, J. L. Studts, L. Cunningham, J. S. Carpenter, et al., 1996, Psychosocial Adjustment and Quality of Life in Women with Breast Cancer and Benign Breast Problems: A Controlled Comparison, J. Clin. Epidemiol., 49, 827-34
View in Google Scholar

Antoni M. H., J. M. Lehman, K. M. Kilbourn, A. E. Boyers, J. L. Culver, et al., 2001, Cognitive-behavioral stress management intervention decreases the prevalence of depression and enhances benefit finding among women under treatment for early-stage breast cancer, Health Psychol., 20, 20-32
View in Google Scholar

Arndt V., T. Stürmer, Ch. Stegmaier, H. Ziegler, G. Dhom, et al., 2001, Socio-demographic factors, health behavior and latestage diagnosis of breast cancer in Germany: A population-based study, J. Clin. Epidemiol., 54, 719-27
View in Google Scholar

Avis N. E., S. F. Assmann, H. M. Kravitz, P. A. Ganz, M. Ory, 2004, Quality of life in diverse groups of midlife women: Assessing the influence of menopause, health status and psychosocial and demographic factors, Qual. Life Res., 13, 933-36
View in Google Scholar

Avis N. E., K. W. Smith, S. McGraw, R. G. Smith, V. M. Petronis, et al., 2005, Assessing quality of life in adult cancer survivors, Qual. Life Res., 14, 1007-23
View in Google Scholar

Barraclough J., 1997, Rak i emocje, Wyd. Med. Sanmedica, Warszawa, pp. 53-55
View in Google Scholar

Ben-Zur H., O. Gilbar, S. Lev, 2001, Coping with Breast Cancer: Patient, Spouse, and Dyad Models, Psychosom. Med., 63, 32-39
View in Google Scholar

Brissette I., M. F. Scheier, Ch.S. Carver, 2002, The Role of Optimism in Social Network Development, Coping, and Psychological Adjustment During a Life Transition, J. Pers. Soc. Psychol., 82, 102-11
View in Google Scholar

Carver C. S., S. D. Harris, J. M. Lehman, L. A. Durel, M. H. Antoni, et al., 2000a, How important is the perception of personal control? Studies of early stage breast cancer patients, Pers. Soc. Psychol. Bull., 26, 139-50
View in Google Scholar

Carver C. S., B. Meyer, M. H. Antoni, 2000b, Responsiveness to threats and incentives, expectancy of recurrence, and distress and disengagement: Moderator effects in women with early state breast cancer, J. Consult. Clin. Psychol., 68, 965-87
View in Google Scholar

Carver C. S., R. G. Smith, V. M. Petronis, M. H. Antoni, 2006, Quality of life among longterm survivors of breast cancer: Different types of antecedents predict different classes of outcomes, Psycho-Oncology, 15, 749-58
View in Google Scholar

Colussi A. M., L. Mazer, D. Candotto, M. De Biasi, L. De Lorenzi, et al., 2001, The elderly cancer patient: A nursing perspective, Crit. Rev. Oncol. Hematol., 39, 235-45
View in Google Scholar

Czapiński J., 1992, Psychologia szczęścia: przegląd badań teorii cebulowej, Akademos, Warszawa
View in Google Scholar

De Walden- Gałuszko K., M. Majkowicz, 1994, Jakość życia w chorobie nowotworowej, Wyd. Uniwersytetu Gdańskiego, Gdańsk
View in Google Scholar

Engel J., J. Kerr, A. Schlesinger-Raab, H. Sauer, D. Hölzel, 2004, Quality of Life Following Breast-Conserving Therapy or Mastectomy: Results of a 5-Year Prospective Study, Breast J., 10, 223-31
View in Google Scholar

Ferrell B. R., 1996, Humanizing the Experience of Pain and Illness, [in:] Suffering, B. R. Ferrell (ed.), Jones and Bartlett, London, pp. 211-21
View in Google Scholar

Gotay C. C., E. L. Korn, M. S. McCabe, T. D. Moore, B. D. Cheson, 1992, Quality of life assessment in cancer treatment protocols: Research issues in protocol development, J. Natl. Cancer I., 84, 575-79
View in Google Scholar

Grygorczuk A., 2008, Pojęcie stresu w medycynie i psychologii, Psychiatria, 5, 111-15
View in Google Scholar

Guglas N., J. Mackiewicz, P. Pawlik, W. Cichy, 2007, Aspekty psychologiczne raka piersi u kobiet w okresie menopauzy, Prz. Menopauz., 1, 19-22
View in Google Scholar

Jassem J., 1998, Rak sutka, Wyd. Med. Springer PWN, Warszawa
View in Google Scholar

Kaczmarek M., 2004, The midlife well-being, gender and marital status, Prz. Antropol. - Anthropol. Rev., 67, 57-71
View in Google Scholar

Kravdal Ø., 2002, A cancer survival model that takes sociodemographic variations in "normal" mortality into account: comparison with other models, J. Epidemiol. Commun. Health, 56, 309-18
View in Google Scholar

Krebs E. E., B. C. Taylor, J. A. Cauley, K. L. Stone, P. J. Bowman, et al., 2006, Measures of Adiposity and Risk of Breast Cancer in Older Postmenopausal Women, J. Am. Geriatr. Soc., 54, 63-69
View in Google Scholar

Majkowicz M., K. De Walden-Gałuszko, I. Trzebiatowska, A. Kopacz, A. Domaradz-ka-Woźniak, 1994, Ocena jakości życia u kobiet z nowotworem gruczołu piersiowego w różnych stadiach choroby, Nowotwory, 44, 86-91
View in Google Scholar

Majkowicz M., 2000, Problemy i perspektywy oceny jakości życia w chorobie nowotworowej, Psychoonkologia, Bibl. Psychiatrii Polskiej, Kraków, 141-48
View in Google Scholar

Manjer J., G. Berglund, L. Bondesson, J. P. Garne, L. Janzon, et al., 2000, Intraurban differences in breast cancer mortality: A study from the city of Malmö in Sweden, J. Epidemiol. Commun. Health, 54, 279-85
View in Google Scholar

Mika K. A., 1984, Psychologia społeczna, Wyd. Nauk. PWN, Warszawa
View in Google Scholar

Miniszewska J., B. Chrystowska-Jabłońska, 2002, Strategie radzenia sobie z chorobą nowotworową a jakość życia, Psychoonkologia, 6, 89-94
View in Google Scholar

Northouse L., T. Kershaw, D. Mood, A. Schafenacker, 2005, Effects of a family intervention on the quality of life of women with recurrent breast cancer and their family caregivers, Psycho-Oncology, 14, 478-91
View in Google Scholar

Nowicki A., B. Rządkowska, 2005, Depresja i lęk u chorych z nowotworami złośliwymi, W spółcz. Onkol., 9, 396-403
View in Google Scholar

Nowicki A., M. Nikiel, 2006, Operacje odtwórcze piersi, ocena satysfakcji pacjentek, Współcz. Onkol., 10, 45-50
View in Google Scholar

Osoba D., M-A. Hsu, C. Copley-Merriman J. Coombs, F. R. Johnson, et al., 2006, Stated preferences of patients with cancer for healthrelated quality of life (HRQOL) domains during treatment, Qual. Life Res., 15, 273-83
View in Google Scholar

Osowiecki D. M., B. Kompas, 1999, A Prospective Study of Coping, Perceived Control, and Psychological Adaptation to Breast Cancer, Cogn. Ther. Res., 23, 169-80
View in Google Scholar

Piątek J., H. Krauss, M. Gaik, J. Krawczyk, S. Sajdak, 2004, Jakość życia kobiet po amputacji piersi, Prz. Ginek. Położ., 4, 172-77
View in Google Scholar

Ponczek D., A. Nowicki, W. Zegarski, Z. Banaszkiewicz, 2006, Ocena jakości życia chorych leczonych chirurgicznie z powodu raka odbytnicy w aspekcie czynników społeczno-demograficznych, Współcz. Onkol., 10, 164-70
View in Google Scholar

Reuben D. B., 1997, Geriatric Assessment in Oncology, Cancer, 80, 1311-16
View in Google Scholar

Ringdal G. I., K. Ringdal, 2000, A follow-up study of the quality of life in cancer patients with different prognoses, Qual. Life Res., 9, 65-73
View in Google Scholar

Roussi P., V. Krikeli, C. Hatzidimitriou, I. Koutri, 2007, Patterns of Coping, Flexibility in Coping and Psychological Distress in Women Diagnosed with Breast Cancer, Cogn. Ther. Res., 31, 97-109
View in Google Scholar

Salander P., K. Hamberg, 2005, Gender differences in patients' written narratives about being diagnosed with cancer, Psycho-Oncology, 4, 684-95
View in Google Scholar

Schipper H., 1990, Quality of life: Principles of the clinical paradigm, J. Psychosoc. Oncol., 8, 171-85
View in Google Scholar

Stępień R. B., 2007, Uwarunkowania społecz-no-demograficzne poziomu lęku i depresji u kobiet po radykalnym leczeniu chirurgicznym raka piersi - mastektomii, Probl. Piel., 15, 20-25
View in Google Scholar

Thome B., A-K. Dykes, I. R. Hallberg, 2004, Quality of life in old people with and without cancer, Qual. Life Res., 13, 1067-80
View in Google Scholar

Tchórzewska H., 1996, Operacje odtwórcze piersi po mastektomii z powodu raka w ocenie pacjentek, Post. Rehab., 10, 69-73
View in Google Scholar

Urcuyo K. R., A. E. Boyers, C. S. Carver, M. H. Antoni, 2005, Finding benefit in breast cancer: Relations with personality, coping, and concurrent well-being, Psychol. Health, 20, 175-92
View in Google Scholar

Weitzner M. A., C. A. Meyers, K. K. Stuebing, A. K. Saleeba, 1997, Relationship between quality of life and mood in long-term survivors of breast cancer treated with mastectomy, Support. Care Cancer, 5, 241-48
View in Google Scholar

Willits M. J., 1994, Reach to recovery in breast cancer, Cancer, 74, 2172-73
View in Google Scholar

Wimberly S. R., C. S. Carver, J-P. Laurenceau, S. D. Harris, M. H. Antoni, 2005, Perceived partner reactions to diagnosis and treatment of breast cancer: Impact on psychosocial and psychosexual adjustment, J. Consult. Clin. Psychol., 73, 300-11
View in Google Scholar

WHO, 2007, Responding to the challenge of cancer in Europe, Available from: http://www.euro.who.int/Document/E91137.pdf
View in Google Scholar

Wong-Kim E. C., J. R. Bloom, 2005, Depression experienced by young women newly diagnosed with breast cancer, Psycho-Oncology, 14, 564-73
View in Google Scholar