Abstract
Background and aims: Breast cancer is one of the most prevalent cancers globally and significantly affects women’s health. This disease has profound physical and psychological repercussions, often leading to an identity crisis among affected women. The aim of this study is to review literature concerning the factors that influence the quality of life in women with breast cancer.
Methods: This review study gathered information on factors affecting the quality of life in women with breast cancer from Persian and English databases, utilizing both Persian keywords and their English equivalents for “quality of life” and “breast cancer” from the years 2000 to 2024. Initially, 72 articles were selected for review. Following an examination of the titles, 53 relevant articles were identified and progressed to a second stage involving qualitative evaluation of their abstracts, ultimately yielding 29 suitable articles for inclusion in the present study. Information was meticulously extracted from these studies based on a thorough review of the articles.
Results: The review of the selected articles revealed several factors influencing the quality of life of women with breast cancer. These factors included training and rehabilitation classes, socio-economic support, massage and exercise movements, yoga, spirituality, social capital, peer training, and psychological support and counseling.
Conclusion: Various factors, including anxiety, depression, and fatigue, can adversely affect the quality of life of women with breast cancer. Consequently, to enhance the quality of life and empower women facing this disease, it is essential for authorities to prioritize not only medical and surgical treatments but also to implement effective supportive care measures.