From the Guidelines
Breast cancer can significantly impair patients both physically and mentally throughout their journey with the disease, affecting their quality of life and requiring comprehensive support. Physically, patients often experience fatigue, pain, lymphedema (swelling in arms or chest), nausea, hair loss, weight changes, and decreased mobility following treatments like surgery, chemotherapy, radiation, or hormonal therapies. Surgical interventions such as lumpectomy or mastectomy can cause physical disfigurement, altered body image, and potential loss of breast sensation. Chemotherapy regimens frequently cause debilitating side effects including severe fatigue, neuropathy, and compromised immune function.
Physical Impairments
- Fatigue
- Pain
- Lymphedema
- Nausea
- Hair loss
- Weight changes
- Decreased mobility Mentally, breast cancer patients commonly face anxiety, depression, fear of recurrence, and post-traumatic stress symptoms. The diagnosis itself creates significant psychological distress, while treatment decisions and uncertainty about the future can lead to overwhelming worry. Many patients experience body image issues, sexual dysfunction, and relationship challenges. Sleep disturbances are common, exacerbating both physical and mental symptoms.
Mental Impairments
- Anxiety
- Depression
- Fear of recurrence
- Post-traumatic stress symptoms
- Body image issues
- Sexual dysfunction
- Relationship challenges This combination of physical limitations and psychological burden can significantly impact quality of life, often requiring comprehensive support including pain management, physical therapy, psychological counseling, and sometimes antidepressant medications to address both the physical and emotional aspects of living with breast cancer, as supported by recent guidelines 1. The American Cancer Society/American Society of Clinical Oncology breast cancer survivorship care guideline also emphasizes the importance of addressing psychosocial needs of breast cancer survivors, including anxiety, depression, and relationship issues 1. Furthermore, the use of integrative therapies such as meditation, yoga, and acupuncture can be beneficial in managing symptoms and improving quality of life, as recommended by the Society for Integrative Oncology guideline 1.
From the Research
Physical Impairment
- Breast cancer and its treatment can cause a range of physical symptoms, including fatigue, pain, and insomnia, which can significantly impair a patient's quality of life 2, 3.
- Cancer-related fatigue is a common symptom experienced by breast cancer patients, and it can be caused by a combination of physical and psychological factors 4, 3.
- Physical symptoms such as pain, alopecia, and sexual dysfunction can also have a significant impact on a patient's physical well-being and quality of life 5, 3.
Mental Impairment
- Breast cancer can also have a significant impact on a patient's mental health, with symptoms such as anxiety, depression, and stress being common 2, 5, 6, 4.
- The diagnosis and treatment of breast cancer can trigger a range of emotions, including fear, anxiety, and depression, which can affect a patient's mental well-being and quality of life 5, 6.
- Psychological symptoms such as impaired cognitive function, sleep disturbances, and altered body image can also occur in breast cancer patients, and can have a significant impact on their mental health and quality of life 6, 4.
- The relationship between depression and cancer-related fatigue is complex, and can be influenced by a range of factors, including optimism, stress appraisals, and physical symptoms 4.