Evaluation of Quality of Life in Breast Cancer Patients Treated in Tertiary Care Hospital of Karachi, Pakistan

Introduction: Breast cancer is the leading health concern in both developed and under developing countries with every 1 out of 9 females in Pakistan being diagnosed with breast cancer. Increased awareness, screening tools, advancement in oncological treatment has increased the breast cancer survival rates, on the other side modified medical and surgical treatment is associated with increased side effects and health concerns. Therefore, beside the assessment of treatment for breast cancer, quality of life needs to be monitored in order to improve physical and psychological outcomes in treated breast cancer patients.

Material and Methods: This is the cross-sectional prospective study conducted in department of general surgery, Liaquat national hospital Karachi over a period of January-December 2023. All the patients who had completed their medical and surgical treatment for breast cancer within last 5 years were included in the study. Quality of life was assessed in patients using FACT B questionnaire and effects of socio demographic factors on quality of life were recorded.

Results: Total 80 patients were included in study with equal number of patients having history of mastectomy and breast conservation surgery. Assessment of quality of life was done using FACT B questionnaire. Highest scores were noted for social/family wellbeing and functional wellbeing and least scores were noted in physical wellbeing with majority of patients having moderate quality of life in both mastectomy and BCS subgroups. No statistically significant association of socio demographic factors with quality of life were noted however quality of life was noted to better in terms of age, education, profession, residence and without hormonal treatment.

Conclusion: moderate quality of life was noted in majority of patients with positive impact of younger age, higher education, professional women, and presence of urban residence and without intake of hormonal therapy.