Effect of acceptance of disease on quality of life in women with breast cancer

Abstract

Background. Breast cancer is the cancer that most often occurs among women around the world. In accordance with the guidelines of the World Health Organization the key part of treatment for breast cancer is to draw attention to the quality of life of patients during and after therapy. Quality of life takes on a particular importance in Oncology. One of the important aspects in cancer is the acceptance of the disease and the ability to adapt to a new life. Objectives. To examine the effect of the acceptance of the disease on quality of life in women with breast cancer. Material and methods. The study included 100 patients between the ages of 30 to 81 years old, in the course of hospitalization due to cancer in the breast cancer center, in Hospital of Oncology in Wrocław. The study used a scale of acceptance of AIS (Acceptance of Illness Scale) and the general quality of life questionnaire SF-36 (Short Form 36). Results. The level of acceptance of the disease has affected by the use of supplemental treatment where patients received adjuvant therapy they had considerably lower values scale acceptance of the disease. Significant impact of the place of residence on the level of all three analysed dimensions of quality of life has observed. Women living in the cities were characterised by a higher assessment of quality of life. The increase in the level of acceptance of the disease. Has been linked with the improvement of the quality of life. In all three dimensions. A higher level of acceptance of the disease and living in the city are independent factors that determine lower values of all three dimensions of quality of life, and thus better their level. Conclusions. A higher degree of acceptance of the disease is an independent factor that affects the level of quality of life. In addition to the degree of acceptance of the disease, living in the city affects the level of quality of life.