Evaluation of the quality of life of married patients who underwent surgery for breast cancer in hospitals in Baghdad, Iraq

Cancer patients are expected to experience some emotional difficulties, such as stress, anxiety, and depression. In addition, there are some physiological side-effects, such as hair loss, pain, tiredness, nausea, and vomiting; some social side-effects, such as social isolation, loss of role, and function; and, ultimately, a decline in their quality of life. This study was conducted to evaluate the quality of life of married women who underwent surgery for breast cancer. A descriptive cross-sectional study design was adopted to conduct this research. The research was conducted in the Oncology Teaching Hospital and Al-Amal National Hospital for Oncology in the hospitals of the city of Baghdad between March–June of 2022. The sample size of the study is 170 patients. The Patient Information Form and European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer QoL Cancer-Specific 3.0 were used for data collection. The data obtained in this study were analyzed with the SPSS 22 package program. Mann-Whitney U test, Kruskall Wallis H Test and Spearman correlation analysis were used in the evaluation of the data. There is a significant association between quality of life of patients' undergoing surgical mastectomy in terms of physical functioning (p=0.003), fatigue (p=0,029), nausea (p=0,036), total symptom scales (p=0,022) scores and age groups. There is a significant association between quality of life of patients' undergoing surgical mastectomy in terms of financial functioning score and employment status (p=0.001). Additionaly, there is a significant association between quality of life of patients in terms of physical functioning (p=0.003), fatigue (p=0,029), nausea (p=0,036), total symptom scales (p=0,022) scores and age groups, financial functioning score and employment status (p=0.001), income (p=0.0001). Furthermore, a similar association between quality of life of patients in terms of functional score (p=0,055), financial function (p=0,0001) and surgical treatment. There is a significant association between quality of life of patients in terms of physical function score and time elapsing for surgery (p=0,045). The same link exists between quality of life of patients in terms of Global health status/QOL (p=0,003), physical functioning (p=0.001), role function (p=0.01), social function (p=0,003), total functional (p=0,0001), fatigue (p=0,0001), pain (p=0,002), insomnia (p=0,024) total symptom scales (p=0,003) scores and radiotherapy. Womens' quality of life needs more attention by the public health and community health sectors. In addition all the patient must have access to the psychosocial support .