Thesis (M.Sc.) - Cairo University - National Cancer Institute - Department of Cancer Biology

Purpose: To evaluate depression, anxiety and quality of life (QOL) in women with breast and gynecological cancers. Material and methods: This is a cross-sectional comparative study conducted at NCI, CU between November 2016 and March 2017 for evaluating anxiety, depression and QOL in, 128 breast and 72 gynecological cancer patients. Self-administered questionnaires, face-to face interview and reviewing patients' charts were used for collecting relevant data. Results: Mean age of patients was 50.6±12.9 years, the majority (73.0%) were married with the greatest part (75.3%) residents of urban areas, mostly of low educational level, and most of them were house wives (76%). Regarding state of treatment 21.5% of patients in both groups were newly diagnosed, 12.0% surgically treated and the majority (66.5%) were receiving post-operative treatment. Prevalence of anxiety and depression was 28.5% and 32.5%, respectively. Patients with gynecological cancers showed significantly higher levels of anxiety and depression than breast cancer group. In the whole group, anxiety and depression did not show a relation to demographic, clinical, pathological characteristics, state or type of treatment in both study groups. QOL was significantly poorer in physical and social aspects in females with gynecological cancers than those with breast cancer. Retired/ unemployed women showed lower social and physical QOL as compared to housewives and employed women. QOL was significantly inferior in patients receiving postoperative treatment as compared to newly diagnosed and surgically treated groups

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