Quality of Life Among Breast Cancer Survivors 2 Years After Diagnosis

BACKGROUND: Quality of life (QoL) is an important patient outcome in oncology. Many breast cancer survivors report difficulties with QoL. Adverse childhood events (ACEs) and posttraumatic growth (PTG) may influence QoL in breast cancer survivors after diagnosis. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to determine the association of QoL with ACEs and PTG among breast cancer survivors 2 years after diagnosis. METHODS: This was a cross-sectional study, conducted on 93 Chinese breast cancer survivors diagnosed at least 2 years prior to the study. Measures included a self-reported demographic questionnaire, the Adverse Childhood Experiences questionnaires, the Posttraumatic Growth Inventory, and the Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy-Breast Cancer QoL questionnaire. RESULTS: Among the 93 participants, more than one-third (34.4%) experienced childhood adversity. We found a negative relationship between ACEs and QoL and a positive relationship between PTG and QoL. CONCLUSIONS: The findings suggest that childhood adversity and PTG are important predictors of QoL among breast cancer survivors at least 2 years after diagnosis. Women who had experienced ACEs had poorer health-related QoL than did those who did not. Individuals who experienced PTG following a cancer diagnosis also reported better QoL than did those who did not. IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE: A better understanding of how ACE and PTG contribute to breast cancer survivors' QoL will help in tailoring and therefore enhancing the efficacy of interventions aimed at improving QoL.