Quality of life in women with breast cancer - A review of the literature and implications for nursing practice

This article discusses the gap between an ever-increasing interest in resea rch on the quality of life in patients with breast cancer and the lack of i mpact this research has had in the actual care of these women. A critical r eview of the literature is used to answer the question of how much can be a ccepted as established knowledge despite the often methodologically weak st udies and contradictory results. Deficiency in research studies is no ratio nale for not improving nursing care in areas wherein there is an expressed need for support and assistance. Nurses are in contact with patients who ha ve breast cancer at all stages of the disease and treatment, because they m eet the women in the hospital, at the outpatient clinic, and in their homes . They ploy an important role in meeting the needs of these women. Ways of improving nursing practice at the different stages of the illness, from the pretreatment phase to posttreatment follow-up assessment, are discussed, a nd concrete suggestions made. This article addresses the women's need both for adequate information and for social and emotional support.