Quality of Life after Mastectomy with or without Breast Reconstruction and Breast-Conserving Surgery in Breast Cancer Survivors: A Cross-Sectional Study at a Tertiary Hospital in Ghana

Josephine Nsaful, Edmund Tetteh Nartey, Florence Dedey, Antoinette Bediako-Bowan, Rita Appiah-Danquah, Kwame Darko, Levi Nii Ayi Ankrah, Cynthia Akli-Nartey, Jessie Yaoteokor Annan, Jessica Dei-Asamoa, George Amanquanor Ahene-Amanquanor, Joe Nat Clegg-Lamptey

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

(1) Background: Breast cancer is the leading malignancy worldwide, and in Ghana, it has a poor overall survival rate. However, approximately 50% of cases are cases of early-stage disease, and with advances in breast cancer treatment and improvements in survival, quality of life (QOL) is becoming as important as the treatment of the disease. (2) Methodology: This was a cross-sectional study of survivors who had breast-conserving surgery (BCS), mastectomy only (M) and mastectomy with breast reconstruction (BRS) from 2016 to 2020 at a tertiary hospital in Ghana, comparatively assessing their QOL using EORTC QLQ C-30 and EORTC QLQ BR-23. (3) Results: The study participants had an overall global health status (GHS) median score of 83.3 [IQR: 66.7–91.7] with no significant differences between the surgery types. The BRS group had statistically significant lower median scores for the functional scale (82.8 and 51.0) and the highest scores for the symptomatic scale (15.7 and 16.5). Body image was significantly lowest for the BRS group (83.3) [68.8–91.7] and highest (100) [91.7–100] for the BCS group (p < 0.001). (4) Conclusion: There is a need to develop support systems tailored at improving the QOL of breast cancer survivors taking into consideration the type of surgery performed.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)2952-2962
Number of pages11
JournalCurrent Oncology
Volume31
Issue number6
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Jun 2024

Keywords

  • EORTC QLQ
  • breast cancer
  • breast conservation
  • breast reconstruction
  • mastectomy
  • quality of life

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