Investigation into quality of life of patient receiving chemotherapeutic regimen in selected hospital in South East Nigeria: A pilot study

In 2008 approximately 12.7million cancers were diagnosed and 7.6million people died due to cancer worldwide. People living with cancer experience a variety of reactions as such quality of life and chemotherapy for cancer patients and its associated side effects are topical issues in oncology practice. A survey was conducted among 264 breast cancer patients selected by Purposive sampling technique, the instrument for the study was (EORTC QLQ - C30 & BR 23). This instrument was used to determine the quality of life of cancer patients and breast cancer in particular. It has a total of 53 items. The first 30 items (i.e. EORTC QLQ - C30), bothers on patients perception of health, the last 23 items which are numbered 31 – 53 (i.e. BR 23). QOL of breast cancer patients using EORTC QLQE30-BR23, revealed that they have trouble taking a long walk, they have you had pains, they need to rest with a mean of 1.9, 2.7 and 2.8 respectively. Also, 15.9% of the respondents had an excellent quality of life in the past week, 78.0% have good quality of life in the past week, it also further revealed that 14.8% had an overall excellent quality of life during the past week. Also, findings revealed that most of the respondents 57.95% had a very bad/poor QOL. Furthermore, findings further revealed that the patients’ perception of overall health past weeks was good, 206(78.03%). Cancer patients experienced many adverse reactions that affected their QOL. There is a need to develop strategies for managing their adverse event resulting from interventions for cancer, thus improving the patient quality of life.