BODY IMAGE, SEXUALITY AND QUALITY OF LIFE IN BREAST CANCER

Abstract

Breast cancer disease and its surgical compromise the psychosexual sphere, taking quality to the experience of physicality and sexuality. The aim of presente work was to study the relationship between body image, function, sexual pleasure and health and quality of life. The study involved 51 women aged between 34 and 82 years of age, followed at the Oncology Center of the Hospital of Trás-os-Montes and Alto Douro. The participants answered a questionnaire about socio-demographic, the Quality of Life Questionnaire - Cancer (QLQ-C30) and the Quality of Life Questionnaire - Breast (QLQ-BR23) of the European Organization for Treatment of Cancer (EORTC. correlational analysis revealed significant inverse relationship between body image and perceived health status and quality of life. The function and sexual pleasure appeared positively related to health and quality of life. We conclude that sexuality as a dimension of health and quality of life of sick breast cancer should be further studied. Keywords - breast cancer, body image, sexual function, sexual pleasure, health, quality of life.