Análise da relação entre tratamento antineoplásico e qualidade de vida em mulheres com câncer de mama

Abstract

Introduction: Breast cancer is known worldwide for being a neoplasm that has a high psychological and social impact, especially in relation to diagnosis and changes in quality of life that occur during treatment. Objective: To analyze the relationship between quality of life and different types of pharmacological treatment protocols in women with breast cancer. Methodology: Cross-sectional study with women undergoing anticancer treatment in a public hospital in São Luís/MA. Participants were divided into three groups, according to the pharmacological protocol to which they were submitted: conventional antineoplastic therapy group, target antineoplastic therapy group and combined antineoplastic therapy group. Data were collected from medical records and sociodemographics; in addition to the application of quality of life instruments (European Organization for Research and Treatment of Breast Cancer-Specific Quality of Life Questionnaire -EORTC QLQ C30 and BR-23) on specific days of treatment (before the start of chemotherapy – D1, after 21 days - D21 and 84 days after onset - D84). Data were analyzed using the IBM SPSS software version 20.0, using one-way ANOVA, Chi-square, Fisher's exact and SIDAK tests for multiple comparisons, with a significance level of 0.05. Results: The mean age of women was 42.8 years (±13.24). The participants are, in general, married, black or brown and with high school education. They presented with stage III neoplasia, negative Her2-type treatment with greater use of chemotherapy protocols cyclophosphamide + doxorubicin (conventional therapy) and transtuzumab (target therapy). In the QLQ C30 questionnaire, the emotional, cognitive and social functions had statistical significance. Side effects and symptoms of the arm were found to be relevant in the QLQ BR23 questionnaire. Conclusion: This study showed that there is a worsening in the quality of life of participants over the course of treatment, especially among participants in conventional antineoplastic pharmacological treatment, facts evidenced by the analysis of emotional, cognitive, social factors and also, changes in the effect collateral and arm symptomatology over time.