Quality of Life in Breast Cancer Patients: An Overview of the Literature

Abstract

Quality of life in patients with breast cancer is an important outcome. This chapter presents an overview of the literature on the topic ranging from descriptive findings to clinical trials. There is quite an extensive body of the literature on quality of life in breast cancer patients. Studies on quality of life in breast cancer have made a considerable contribution in improving breast cancer care, although their exact benefit is hard to define. Quality of life data in breast cancer patients provided scientific evidence for clinical decision-making and conveyed helpful information concerning breast cancer patients' experiences during the course of the disease diagnosis, treatment, disease-free survival time, and recurrences; otherwise finding solutions for evidence-based selection of optimal treatments, psychosocial interventions, patient--physician communications, allocation of resources, and indicating research priorities were impossible. More qualitative research is needed for a better understanding of the topic. In addition, issues related to the disease, its treatment side effects and symptoms, and sexual functioning should receive more attention when studying quality of life in breast cancer patients.