Quality of Life in Female Breast Cancer Patients and Survivors in a South African Municipality

Abstract

Background: Breast cancer diagnosis and treatment processes affect patients physically and mentally, and have an impact on their quality of life, even years after receiving treatment. Objectives: The objective of this study was to determine the quality of life in female breast cancer patients and survivors in a South African context. The municipality within which participants were recruited for this study was Ekurhuleni, based in the Gauteng province, South Africa. Design: This study followed a cross-sectional research design. Quantitative data was collected. Methods: The Quality-of-Life Patient/Cancer Survivor Version (2012) was used to determine participants’ quality of life in 4 subscales, namely, physical, psychological, social, and spiritual. The questionnaire was accessible to participants via the online Google Forms platform as well as in hard-copy format at local medical facilities. The Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) was used to compute statistics, and the level of significance was set at 95% ( P < .05). Results: One hundred female breast cancer patients and survivors from the region of Ekurhuleni, South Africa, took part in this study. The findings demonstrate that the quality-of-life subscale with the highest score was spiritual well-being (6.66 ± 2.07) and the lowest was psychological well-being (4.91 ± 1.93). No significant difference was found between quality of life and type of facility attended. Significant differences were found in quality-of-life ratings between breast cancer patient and breast cancer survivor populations. Conclusion: Breast cancer can result in a compromised quality of life, and with the increased prevalence and survival rate of breast cancer patients, both the short- and long-term effects of the condition and its treatments are heightened.