Assessment of quality of life in women five years after breast cancer surgery, members of Breast Cancer Self-Help Groups - non-randomized, cross-sectional study

Aim of the study: To assess the quality of life in patients treated for breast cancer who were 5 years after diagnosis and were active members of Breast Cancer Self-Help Groups. Material and methods: The study had a non-randomized, cross-sectional design. We enrolled 167 women who were more than 5 years after mastectomy and were active members of Breast Cancer Self-Help Groups (group A1). As a control group we enrolled 117 women after mastectomy not members of such support groups (group A2). For the evaluation of the quality of life in both groups we used the following standardized questionnaires-EORTC QLQ-C30 and EORTC QLQ-BR23 as well the Mini-MAC scale for the assessment of strategies of coping with disease. Results: Based on QLQ C30 scores, group A1 had better emotional functioning (p = 0.0005) and a higher general quality of life (p = 0.0259), whereas group A2 had better role functioning (p = 0.0042). Based on QLQ BR23 scores, there were statistically significant differences in body image (p = 0.0366) and life perspectives (p = 0.0313) in favor of group A1. In the control group, there was a greater use of destructive coping strategies and anxious preoccupation (p = 0.1957). Conclusions: Membership in Amazon groups improves functioning in breast cancer patients that can also extend into a five-year period after treatment completion.