QUALITY OF LIFE IN PATIENTS WITH BREAST CANCER AND LYMPHEDEMA IN CANTON SARAJEVO, BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA
Keywords:
Quality of Life, FACT -B 4, Surveys and Questionnaires, Pain, ExerciseAbstract
One of the most prevalent side effects following breast cancer therapy is lymphedema.. The literature lists various symptoms experienced by patients with lymphedema, such as a feeling of heaviness and tightness in the arm, numbness, weakness, and pain. Less physical activity does not only result in a lower quality of life; it also has an adverse effect on the psychosocial component of life. The purpose of this study was to compare the levels of respondents with breast cancer who had lymphedema and those who did not, as well as to look into the respondents' quality of life.
Material and Methods: The research was conducted in the Association of persons suffering from and treated for breast cancer "Renesansa" in Sarajevo. 35 respondents were included in the study. The instrument used in our study was the standardized FACT -B+4 questionnaire. The research was conducted in the period from the end of March to the beginning of May 2022.
Results: Of the total number of respondents with breast cancer, the proportion of respondents with breast cancer and lymphedema was 17.1%. The quality of life of respondents with breast cancer and lymphedema was lower in terms of physical health and emotional and functional status.
Conclusion: The quality of life of respondents with breast cancer and lymphedema differed from the quality of life of respondents with breast cancer without lymphedema. The level of quality of life of respondents with breast cancer and lymphedema is slightly lower than the level of quality of life of respondents with breast cancer without lymphedema, but without statistically significant difference.
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