Depressive phenomena and physical symptom distress among women with breast cancer and their impact on women's quality of life

ABSTRACT

Breast cancer accounts for about 30% of cancer deaths in women in developed countries and about 15% in developing countries. Breast cancer commonly produces depressive symptoms and physical symptoms distress which have a direct and profound impact in all aspects of quality of life. Therefore the study aimed to assess the nature and scope of depressive phenomena and physical symptoms distress in women after breast cancer diagnosis, to determine the relationship between depressive symptoms and physical symptom distress among breast cancer women, examine the relation of depression as well as physical symptom distress of patient's quality of life. A descriptive correlation design was used on the study sample which consisted of 50 female patients and 50 women who haven't cancer as a control group in total. The study was conducted at outpatient breast cancer clinic, at Assiut University Hospital. Socio- demographic data sheet was developed and used by the investigator in addition to quality of life questionnaire for women with advanced breast cancer which included four domains mobility impairment, GIT toxicity, bone pain and fatigue, Beck Depression Inventory Scale [BDI] and symptoms Distress Scale [SDS]. Results revealed that, depression is a common response to breast cancer in both its early and late stages. Most of breast cancer women suffer from moderate to sever symptom distress, there was a significant relation between depression and symptom distress and they had direct and indirect impact on quality of life among breast cancer women. It was recommended that, an educational training program should be provided to women with breast cancer to foster their potential rehabilitation and improve their quality of life