Factors influencing the impact of financial toxicity on the quality of life of breast cancer patients after mastectomies

This study aims to explore the relationship between financial toxicity (FT), fear of cancer recurrence (FCR), quality of life (QOL), and illness perception (IP) in breast cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy after a mastectomy, to provide new ideas and directions for improving their quality of life. A total of 305 breast cancer patients who received chemotherapy after a mastectomy were included in this study using the convenience sampling method. FT, FCR, IP, and QOL were cross-sectionally investigated using the General Information Questionnaire, Comprehensive Score for Financial Toxicity, Simplified Fear of Disease Progression Questionnaire, Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy-General, and Brief Illness Perception Questionnaire. Data were analyzed using SPSS 26.0. Place of residence, employment status, household income per month, personal monthly income, age, literacy, and healthcare payment method, radiotherapy and surgical approach were found to affect the QOL of patients. QOL and FT scores were significantly correlated. FCR could mediate the effect of FT on QOL, and IP played a moderating role in the relationship between FT and QOL. The relationships between FT, FCR, IP, and QOL aligned with the findings of the stress response model. FT directly affects QOL and also further affects it via FCR, while IP modulates the effect of FT on the QOL, offering new insights for clinical staff tasked with choosing measures to improve the quality of life of patients.