Thesis (M.Sc.) - Cairo University - Faculty of Medicine - Department of Oncology - Clinical

Breast cancer is the most common malignancy among women leading to serious sequelae on the HRQOL. This was not well studied before in Egypt although it is the most important issue after survival. This is a cross sectional study. The Arabic version of EORTC QLQ C30 (version 3) and EORTC QLQ BR 23 questionnaire was administered to a random sample of 172 Egyptian women with breast cancer. There were 119 patients subjected to modified radical mastectomy (MRM) and 53 to breast conservative surgery (BCS). Relevant descriptive statistics were computed for all items. The equality of means across the categories of each categorical independent variable was tested using parametric tests (ANOVA and independent t test) or non-parametric tests (kruskal wallis and Mann Whitney tests) of association where appropriate. The mean age was 50.32 years ( ± SD 8.54) with a mean period of 4.75 years (± SD 3.33) from surgery. The global health was poor (28.38 ± 11.7, 95% CI 30.71). Among the functional scales of QLQ C30, social functioning scored the highest (87.91 ± 17.92, 95% CI 91.64) whereas emotional functioning scored the lowest (59.61 ± 24.96, 95% CI 64.66). The most distressing symptom on the symptom scales of QLQ C30 was financial impact with a Mean of 57.87 ± 20.98 (95% CI 62.24) followed by fatigue 39.43 ± 17.70 (95% CI 43.12) and pain 36.44 ± 18.07 (95% CI 40.21).Using the disease specific tool it was found that body image and sexual functioning scored the lowest (Mean 74.51 ± 13.21 and 74.45 ± 14.89, 95% CI 77.27 and 77.55) respectively. On the symptom scale, arm symptoms scored the highest with a mean of 32.35 ± 23.22 (95% CI 37.19)

Issued also as CD