Quality of Life and Sexual Functioning of Women after Breast Cancer Surgery

Stana Pačarić; Želimir Orkić; Andrea Milostić-Srb; Tajana Turk; Nikolina Farčić; Štefica Mikšić; Silvia Adamčević; Ivan Erić; Zvjezdana Gvozdanović; Nika Srb

doi:10.3889/oamjms.2021.6015

Authors

Stana Pačarić Department of Nursing and Palliative Medicine, Faculty of Dental Medicine and Health, Josip Juraj Strossmayer University of Osijek, Nursing Institute “Professor Radivoje Radić”, Osijek, Croatia; Faculty of Medicine, Josip Juraj Strossmayer University of Osijek, Osijek, Croatia; Department of Surgery, University Hospital Centre Osijek, Osijek, Croatia https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3670-5910
Želimir Orkić Faculty of Medicine, Josip Juraj Strossmayer University of Osijek, Osijek, Croatia; Department of Surgery, University Hospital Centre Osijek, Osijek, Croatia
Andrea Milostić-Srb Department of Nursing and Palliative Medicine, Faculty of Dental Medicine and Health, Josip Juraj Strossmayer University of Osijek, Nursing Institute “Professor Radivoje Radić”, Osijek, Croatia https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4608-8373
Tajana Turk Faculty of Medicine, Josip Juraj Strossmayer University of Osijek, Osijek, Croatia; Department of Surgery, University Hospital Centre Osijek, Osijek, Croatia https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1535-1359
Nikolina Farčić Department of Nursing and Palliative Medicine, Faculty of Dental Medicine and Health, Josip Juraj Strossmayer University of Osijek, Nursing Institute “Professor Radivoje Radić”, Osijek, Croatia; Faculty of Medicine, Josip Juraj Strossmayer University of Osijek, Osijek, Croatia; Department of Surgery, University Hospital Centre Osijek, Osijek, Croatia https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8289-0710
Štefica Mikšić Department of Nursing and Palliative Medicine, Faculty of Dental Medicine and Health, Josip Juraj Strossmayer University of Osijek, Nursing Institute “Professor Radivoje Radić”, Osijek, Croatia https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1199-3768
Silvia Adamčević Department of Surgery, University Hospital Centre Osijek, Osijek, Croatia https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4519-5900
Ivan Erić Faculty of Medicine, Josip Juraj Strossmayer University of Osijek, Osijek, Croatia; Department of Surgery, University Hospital Centre Osijek, Osijek, Croatia https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5511-6436
Zvjezdana Gvozdanović Department of Nursing and Palliative Medicine, Faculty of Dental Medicine and Health, Josip Juraj Strossmayer University of Osijek, Nursing Institute “Professor Radivoje Radić”, Osijek, Croatia; 2Faculty of Medicine, Josip Juraj Strossmayer University of Osijek, Osijek, Croatia; Head Nurse, General County Hospital Našice, Našice, Croatia
Nika Srb Faculty of Medicine, Josip Juraj Strossmayer University of Osijek, Osijek, Croatia https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9587-5413

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.3889/oamjms.2021.6015

Keywords:

Breast cancer, Breast-conserving surgery, Mastectomy, Sexual functioning, Quality of life, Women, EORTC QLQ-BR23

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Women with breast cancer can experience changes in sexual functioning and body images that can seriously affect their quality of life.

AIM: The aim of this research was to study the quality of life and sexual functioning of women after a mastectomy and after a breast-conserving surgery and to compare post-operative quality of life.

SUBJECTS AND METHODS: This cross-sectional study included 204 participants, 101 patients after a mastectomy and 103 patients after a quadrantectomy. The research was conducted using the Croatian version of the questionnaire of the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Breast Cancer, the questionnaire with the breast cancer module EORTC QLQ - BR 23.

RESULTS: On the EORTC QLQ –BR23 scale, participants with mastectomy rated their sexual functioning (p < 0.001), sexual pleasure (p < 0.001), and systemic side effects (p = 0.04) lower comparing to women after breast-conserving surgery. The overall functionality scale was significantly lower (p = 0.03) for women who underwent mastectomy compared to those who underwent breast-conserving surgery. Participants under 51 years of age had worse body image 1 month after mastectomy (p = 0.006), while sexual functioning was better (p = 0.03) than in older age groups. In breast-conserving surgery group, 1 month after surgery, participants in the age group of 61 years and older assessed body image better (p = 0.04) than in the younger age group. Sexual functioning was rated better by women aged 51–60 years (p = 0.03).

CONCLUSION: Results of this study show that women after breast conserving surgery have better quality of life, better sexual functioning and less side effects of systemic therapy compared to women after mastectomy. The type of surgery, patient’s age and time passed after completion of treatment are important factors which influence sexual functioning and quality of life in breast cancer survivors.

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