Iwona Głowacka, Wojciech Zegarski, Wojciech Hagner, Krystyna Nowacka, Tomasz Nowikiewicz Ocena jakości życia kobiet leczonych metodą BCT z procedurą węzła wartowniczego z powodu raka piersi

Abstrakt

Introduction: Breast cancer is the most common tumor among women in Poland. About 5000 women die every year because of breast cancer. The purpose of research was to determine the influence of BCT with sentinel lymph node biopsy on the change in quality of life in patients undergoing this procedure. Materials and methods: The study involved 50 women (median age – 50.2 years) undergoing BCT with sentinel lymph node biopsy for breast cancer in the Department of Breast Cancer and Reconstructive Surgery, Centre for Oncology, Bydgoszcz, Poland. The assessment was carried out in patients in clinical stages I and II. Standard QLQ-C30 and QLQ-BR23 questionnaires were used. The same participants
filled in the QLQ-C30 and QLQ-BR23 questionnaires before (Group A1) and six weeks after the procedure (Group A2). Results: Quality of life measured with the use of EORTC QLQ-C30 and EORTC-BR 23 scales was higher in women before the procedure with respect to role functioning and global quality of life assessment (p < 0.05). There was an improvement in emotional functioning, feeling sick and unwell, and mental functioning after the procedure (p < 0.05). No statistically significant differences were noted in physical functioning, cognitive functioning, social functioning, or sexual functioning before and after the procedure (p > 0.05). Conclusions: BCT with sentinel lymph node biopsy is beneficial to women undergoing

this procedure as it improves mental and emotional functioning.

Key words: Breast cancer, Quality of Life Breast Conserving Therapy, sentinel lymph node procedure