Comparison of Fatigue and Quality of Life in the Women with Breast Cancer According to two Different Treatment Modalities : Chemotherapy vs Radiotherapy

치료 방법에 따른 유방암 환자의 피로와 삶의 질

This study was intented to identify the differences of fatigue and quality of life in patients with breast cancer according to the different treatment modalities. Ninety-one subjects were recruited from a medical unit and a therapeutic radiologic clinic at a university hospital in Chungnam, Korea. Fatigue was measured using Lee's scale(1999) translated from Piper's Fatigue Scale and quality of life was measured using Yang's scale(2002). The women with breast cancer receiving chemotherapy were less fatigued and had better quality of life than those receiving radiotherapy(t=-2.914, p=.005; t=2.565, p=.012, respectively). The fatigue and quality of life in the women with breast cancer undergoing cancer treatments were influenced by the weight change during the past 3 months(F=24.70, p=.039). Cancer stage, metastasis and weight were not associated with fatigue and quality of life. Health professionals can help cancer patients undergoing treatments prepare to cope with the expected side effects by providing a specific treatment-related information to them. The findings of this study can contribute the knowledge of these information.