GJHBT
IJNMR
IJGONC
IJAAPR
IJCLR| Body Image and Quality of Life Among Breast Cancer Survivors: A Literature Review |  |
| Pages 12-20 K. M. Chow, K. L. Hung and S. M. Yeung DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.15379/2413-7308.2016.03.02Published:18 July 2016 |
|
| Abstract | |
|
Background: Breast cancer patients tend to suffer from severe body image disturbance which has a great impact on their quality of life. The effects can be permanent as cancer survivorship is a lifelong process.
Objectives: The objectives of this literature review are to identify, summarise and critically appraise the current literature investigating the body image and quality of life of breast cancer survivors.
Design: A critical literature review on the body image and quality of life of breast cancer survivors.
Date sources: MEDLINE, the British Nursing Index, CINAHL Plus, PsycI NFO and Google Scholar.
Review methods: A comprehensive search was carried out in the five databases from the period 2005 to 2016 to identify relevant articles with the following terms and their combinations: “body image”, “quality of life” and “breast cancer”.
Results: A total of 13 studies were included in the literature review, six investigated the impacts of the disease and its related treatment on body image and seven examined the quality of life among breast cancer survivors. Body image was found to be disturbed after treatment and associated with the type of surgery a patient had undergone, but the impact seemed to diminish within two years following surgery. The cosmetic differences caused by different surgical approaches were found to have no significant impact on body image. Young breast cancer survivors suffered from worse body image when compared with older women. Regarding the quality of life of breast cancer survivors, this was also found to be associated with the type of surgery undergone. Patients who received breast-conserving therapy perceived that they had a better quality of life than those who underwent mastectomy. Age is also identified as a determinant of quality of life, with younger patients reported to have poorer outcomes. In the long run, an improvement in quality of life among breast cancer survivors over time was noted. The relevant literature was unable to produce enough evidence of the correlation between body image and quality of life.
Conclusion: Breast cancer survivors were reported as having a poorer body image and deterioration in their quality of life after related treatment. Specialist nursing care and appropriate interventions should be developed to address patient needs. As most of the studies investigating the body image of breast cancer survivors were carried out in Western countries, implications for research on this issue in different cultural background is suggested.
|
|
| Keywords | |
| Body image, quality of life, breast cancer, survivorship, literature review. | |
 |
|
G J H B T
Global Journal of Hematology and Blood Transfusion is committed to dissemination of high-quality research related to the latest trends and advances in the field of Hematology and Blood Transfusion.Read More
I J N M R
International Journal of Nuclear Medicine Research provides an authoritative setting for the publication of high quality internationally-relevant research with respect to the field of Nuclear Medicine. Nuclear Medicine is crucial to early diagnosis and treatment of diseases that threaten human lives.
Rread More
I J G O N C
International journal of Gynecology, Obstetrics and Neonatal Care is a peer reviewed medical journal provides up-to-date results of basic and clinical studies in Gynecology, Obstetrics and Neonatology. The primary mission of the journal is to promote improvement in the health.
Read More
I J A A P R
International Journal of Advanced Applied Physics Research is a refereed and highly professional journal that publishes premium theoretical and pragmatic papers in the field of Applied Physics.
Read More
I J C L R
International Journal of Cardiology and Lipidology Research is a peer reviewed medical journal which strengthen the research and educational base of Cardiology and Lipidology.We publish original research articles, reviews, case studies, conference papers and short notes related to aforementioned field.
Rread More
J A N R
Journal of Advanced Neuroscience Research is a peer reviewed scientific journal providing fascinating and unique forum for publishing original experimental and review articles.Read More
W J O R
World Journal of Oncology Research is a peer-reviewed scientific journal which strengthens the research and educational base of Oncology.Read More
J C M R U
Journal of Clinical Medicine Research Updates is an international peer reviewed journal related to latest advances in all areas of clinical medicine.Read More
I J F P T
International Journal of Food Processing Technology is a peer reviewed scientific journal providing an authoritative setting for the publication of internationally-relevant research.Read More
J T P R
Journal of Translational Proteomics Research is a scientific journal providing a scholarly forum for novel scientific research in the field of translational proteomics.Read More
Indexed In
