quality of life among breast cancer patients in Gaza governorates during 2007
Date
2010-02-03
Authors
mohammed kh nofal
محمد نوفل
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Al-Quds University
Abstract
Breast cancer is a common and frequently fatal disease, and the second ranking cause of cancer death in the Eastern Mediterranean Region. Worldwide, breast cancer represents 10% of all cancers diagnosed annually and constituted 22% of all new cancer cases in women in 2006, making it by far the most common type of cancer in women. Quality Of Life (QOL) is a temporal concept that reflects the moment at which it is evaluated; thus, respondents are more likely to respond consistently to measures of tangible capital.A descriptive analytical cross sectional study was conducted in Gaza governorates, the general purpose of the study was to assess the quality of life among breast cancer patients, and to estimate the incidence rate for breast cancer in 2007. Data was collected through interviewed questionnaire which were administered to 102 subjects, the response rate was 94%, and six subjects were died. Breast cancer is uncommon in male they represented 3.1% of the population study, the mean of age of the subjects was 52.4 years old, 79.2% of the subjects had secondary certificate and less, 70% of them were married, and 66.7% of subjects were not employed, with monthly income less than 1000 NIS(250 USD). And most of them received three modalities of treatment . The majority of the subjects (80%) accepted their general quality of life, they rate their QOL from moderate to very good, and more than 60% of them were satisfied about their health. The highest score in QOL domains was social domain in presence of family support and friends. Employment, level of education, and monthly income played a significant role in increasing the quality of life. There were highly statistically significant relation between these variables and the high score of the domains of QOL.In the contrast, age, marital status, residential area, and treatment regimen had no statistical significant with the domain of QOL. In this study incidence rate was calculated, 7.2 per 100,000 population in Gaza governorates in 2007, and 14.6 per 100,000 female population.The findings constitute an evidence-base for the country's cancer care program, to boost national health education about prognosis of cancer. Families living with breast women cancer are vulnerable and need support if the patient is recently diagnosed, less educated, single, not employed. It emphasizes the importance of physician-patient communication. It gives the opportunity to use an international scale in Palestine