[Quality of life of young women with early breast cancer and their partners: specific needs result in the necessity of development of specific questionnaires for the patient and the partner]

Bull Cancer. 2012 Jun;99(6):685-91. doi: 10.1684/bdc.2012.1598.
[Article in French]

Abstract

Purpose. To determine the feelings of young women with early breast cancer concomitantly with their partners at different treatment periods in order to create a specific quality of life (QOL) scale for this population. Materiel and methods. It was a prospective, multicentre, qualitative study, in patients younger than 45 years old at diagnosis and living with a partner for at least six months. Patients and partners were interviewed by a psychologist, from the diagnosis disclosure until follow up, using non-directing individual talks. Results. Sixty-nine couples were interviewed. Analyses of the interviews have highlighted the impact of disease on eight dimensions: psychological, physical, family, social, couple, sexuality, domestic, professional and economic dimensions. These impacts are mostly negative and are present in all periods and even after treatment for follow up. Discussion. A multidimensional profile of this specific population was established. A QOL scale dedicated to this population is being validated.

Publication types

  • English Abstract
  • Multicenter Study

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Breast Neoplasms / psychology*
  • Family
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Interview, Psychological
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Prospective Studies
  • Qualitative Research
  • Quality of Life*
  • Sexuality
  • Spouses / psychology*