Top

Published in:

Open Access 01-03-2017

Life satisfaction of women of working age shortly after breast cancer surgery

Authors: Mariann Olsson, Marie Nilsson, Kerstin Fugl-Meyer, Lena-Marie Petersson, Agneta Wennman-Larsen, Linnea Kjeldgård, Kristina Alexanderson

Published in: Quality of Life Research | Issue 3/2017

Abstract

Purpose

To explore, among women of working age, satisfaction with life as a whole and with different life domains, and its associations with social and health variables, shortly after breast cancer surgery.

Methods

This cross-sectional study included 605 women, aged 20–63 years, who had had breast cancer surgery with no distant metastasis, pre-surgical chemotherapy, or previous breast cancer. Associations between LiSat-11 and demographic and social factors as well as health- and treatment-related variables were analysed by multivariable logistic regression.

Results

Compared with Swedish reference levels, the women were, after breast cancer surgery, less satisfied with life, particularly sexual life. Women working shortly after breast cancer surgery were more often satisfied with life in provision domains compared with the reference population. Although most included variables showed associations with satisfaction, after adjustment for all significantly associated variables, only six variables—having children, being in work, having emotional and informational social support, and having good physical and emotional functioning—were positively associated with satisfaction with life as a whole. The odds ratios for satisfaction were higher in most life domains if the woman had social support and good emotional and cognitive functioning.

Conclusions

One month after breast cancer surgery, satisfaction with different life domains was associated primarily with social support and health-related functioning. However, this soon after surgery, treatment-related variables showed no significant associations with life satisfaction. These results are useful for planning interventions to enhance e.g. social support and emotional as well as cognitive functioning.

Available only for authorised users

These data are used with the permission of the Steering Board of the Swedish National Quality Register for Breast Cancer.

Campbell, A., Converse, P. E., & Rodgers, W. L. (1976). The quality of American life. New York: Russell Sage Foundation.

Fugl-Meyer, A. R., Melin, R., & Fugl-Meyer, K. S. (2002). Life satisfaction in 18- to 64-year-old Swedes: In relation to gender, age, partner and immigrant status. Journal of Rehabilitation Medicine, 34(5), 239–246.CrossRefPubMed

von Wright, G. H. (1963). The Varieties of Goodness. London: Routledge and Kegan Paul.

Fugl-Meyer, K. S. (2016). A medical social work perspective on rehabilitation. Journal of Rehabilitation Medicine, 48, 758–763.CrossRefPubMed

Howard-Anderson, J., Ganz, P. A., Bower, J. E., & Stanton, A. L. (2012). Quality of life, fertility concerns, and behavioral health outcomes in younger breast cancer survivors: A systematic review. Journal of the National Cancer Institute, 104(5), 386–405. doi:10.1093/jnci/djr541.CrossRefPubMed

Fiszer, C., Dolbeault, S., Sultan, S., & Bredart, A. (2014). Prevalence, intensity, and predictors of the supportive care needs of women diagnosed with breast cancer: A systematic review. Psycho-oncology, 23(4), 361–374. doi:10.1002/pon.3432.CrossRefPubMed

Moons, P., Budts, W., & De Geest, S. (2006). Critique on the conceptualisation of quality of life: A review and evaluation of different conceptual approaches. International Journal of Nursing Studies, 43(7), 891–901. doi:10.1016/j.ijnurstu.2006.03.015.CrossRefPubMed

Anke, A., Damsgard, E., & Roe, C. (2013). Life satisfaction in subjects with long-term musculoskeletal pain in relation to pain intensity, pain distribution and coping. Journal of Rehabilitation Medicine, 45(3), 277–285. doi:10.2340/16501977-1102.CrossRefPubMed

Mehnert, A., de Boer, A., & Feuerstein, M. (2013). Employment challenges for cancer survivors. Cancer, 119(Suppl 11), 2151–2159. doi:10.1002/cncr.28067.CrossRefPubMed

10.

Merrick, D., Sundelin, G., & Stalnacke, B. M. (2012). One-year follow-up of two different rehabilitation strategies for patients with chronic pain. Journal of Rehabilitation Medicine, 44(9), 764–773. doi:10.2340/16501977-1022.CrossRefPubMed

11.

Bai, A., Li, H., Huang, Y., Liu, X., Gao, Y., Wang, P., et al. (2016). A survey of overall life satisfaction and its association with breast diseases in Chinese women. Cancer Medicine, 5(1), 111–119.CrossRefPubMed

12.

Hansen, A., Edlund, C., & Bränholm, I.-B. (2005). Significant resources needed for return to work after sick leave. Work, 25(3), 231–240.PubMed

13.

Melin, R., Fugl-Meyer, K. S., & Fugl-Meyer, A. R. (2003). Life satisfaction in 18- to 64-year-old Swedes: In relation to education, employment situation, health and physical activity. Journal of Rehabilitation Medicine, 35(2), 84–90.CrossRefPubMed

14.

Laurent, K., De Seze, M. P., Delleci, C., Koleck, M., Dehail, P., Orgogozo, J. M., et al. (2011). Assessment of quality of life in stroke patients with hemiplegia. Annals of Physical and Rehabilitation Medicine, 54(6), 376–390. doi:10.1016/j.rehab.2011.06.002.CrossRefPubMed

15.

Muller, R., Peter, C., Cieza, A., & Geyh, S. (2012). The role of social support and social skills in people with spinal cord injury—a systematic review of the literature. Spinal Cord, 50(2), 94–106. doi:10.1038/sc.2011.116.CrossRefPubMed

16.

Nilsson, M., Olsson, M., Wennman-Larsen, A., Petersson, L.-M., & Alexanderson, K. (2011). Return to work after breast cancer: Patients’ experiences of encounters with different stakeholders. European Journal of Oncology Nursing, 15, 267–274. doi:10.1016/j.ejon.2011.03.005.CrossRefPubMed

17.

Nilsson, M., Olsson, M., Wennman-Larsen, A., Petersson, L.-M., & Alexanderson, K. (2013). Women’s reflections and actions regarding work after breast cancer surgery, and emotions involved in this—a focus group study. Psycho-oncology, 22(7), 1639–1644. doi:10.1002/pon.3192.CrossRefPubMed

18.

Kanatas, A., Velikova, G., Roe, B., Horgan, K., Ghazali, N., Shaw, R. J., et al. (2012). Patient-reported outcomes in breast oncology: A review of validated outcome instruments. Tumori, 98, 678–688.PubMed

19.

Brandão, T., Schulz, M. S., & Mena Matos, P. (2016). Psychological adjustment after breast cancer: A systematic review of longitudinal studies. Psycho-Oncology. doi:10.1002/pon.4230.

20.

Johnsson, A., Fornander, T., Rutqvist, L. E., & Olsson, M. (2011). Work status and life changes in the first year after breast cancer diagnosis. Work, 38(4), 337–346. doi:10.3233/WOR-2011-1137.PubMed

21.

Petersson, L. M., Wennman-Larsen, A., Nilsson, M., Olsson, M., & Alexanderson, K. (2011). Work situation and sickness absence in the initial period after breast cancer surgery. Acta Oncologica, 50, 282–288.CrossRefPubMed

22.

Boosman, H., Schepers, V. P., Post, M. W., & Visser-Meily, J. M. (2011). Social activity contributes independently to life satisfaction three years post stroke. Clinical Rehabilitation, 25(5), 460–467. doi:10.1177/0269215510388314.CrossRefPubMed

23.

Geyh, S., Fellinghauer, B., Kirchberger, I., & Post, M. (2010). Cross-cultural validity of four quality of life scales in persons with spinal cord injury. Health and Quality of Life Outcomes, 8(1), 94.CrossRefPubMedPubMedCentral

24.

Jacobsson, L. J., Westerberg, M., Malec, J. F., & Lexell, J. (2011). Sense of coherence and disability and the relationship with life satisfaction 6–15 years after traumatic brain injury in northern Sweden. Neuropsychological Rehabilitation, 21(3), 383–400. doi:10.1080/09602011.2011.566711.CrossRefPubMed

25.

Anke, A. G., & Fugl-Meyer, A. R. (2003). Life satisfaction several years after severe multiple trauma—a retrospective investigation. Clinical Rehabilitation, 17(4), 431–442.CrossRefPubMed

26.

Eberhard, J., Stahl, O., Cohn-Cedermark, G., Cavallin-Stahl, E., Giwercman, Y., Rylander, L., et al. (2009). Sexual function in men treated for testicular cancer. The Journal of Sexual Medicine, 6(7), 1979–1989. doi:10.1111/j.1743-6109.2009.01298.x.CrossRefPubMed

27.

Skeppner, E., Windahl, T., Andersson, S. O., & Fugl-Meyer, K. S. (2008). Treatment-seeking, aspects of sexual activity and life satisfaction in men with laser-treated penile carcinoma. European Urology, 54(3), 631–639.CrossRefPubMed

28.

Öberg, K., & Sjogren Fugl-Meyer, K. (2005). On Swedish women’s distressing sexual dysfunctions: Some concomitant conditions and life satisfaction. The Journal of Sexual Medicine, 2(2), 169–180.CrossRefPubMed

29.

Petersson, L. M., Nilsson, M. I., Alexanderson, K., Olsson, M., & Wennman-Larsen, A. (2013). How do women value work shortly after breast cancer surgery and are their valuations associated with being on sick leave? Journal of Occupational Rehabilitation, 23, 391–399. doi:10.1007/s10926-012-9402-0.CrossRefPubMed

30.

Nilsson, M. I., Petersson, L. M., Wennman-Larsen, A., Olsson, M., Vaez, M., & Alexanderson, K. (2013). Adjustment and social support at work early after breast cancer surgery and its associations with sickness absence. Psycho-oncology, 22(12), 2755–2762. doi:10.1002/pon.3341.CrossRefPubMed

31.

Johansson, G., & Lundberg, I. (2004). Adjustment latitude and attendance requirements as determinants of sickness absence or attendance. Empirical tests of the illness flexibility model. Social Science and Medicine, 58(10), 1857–1868.CrossRefPubMed

32.

National Working Life Cohort—Technical Report 1 (in Swedish: Arbetslivkohorten). (2005). National Institute for Working Life. http://nile.lub.lu.se/arbarch/arb/2005/arb2005_08.pdf.8.

33.

Unden, A. L., & Orth-Gomer, K. (1989). Development of a social support instrument for use in population surveys. Social Science and Medicine, 29(12), 1387–1392.CrossRefPubMed

34.

Aaronson, N. K., Ahmedzai, S., Bergman, B., Bullinger, M., Cull, A., Duez, N. J., et al. (1993). The European organization for research and treatment of cancer QLQ-C30: A quality-of-life instrument for use in international clinical trials in oncology. Journal of the National Cancer Institute, 85(5), 365–376.CrossRefPubMed

35.

Derogar, M., van der Schaaf, M., & Lagergren, P. (2012). Reference values for the EORTC QLQ-C30 quality of life questionnaire in a random sample of the Swedish population. Acta Oncologica, 51, 10–16.CrossRefPubMed

36.

EORTC. (2001). EORTC-C30 scoring manual (3rd ed.). Brussels: EORTC.

37.

Wennman-Larsen, A., Nilsson, M., Saboonchi, F., Olsson, M., Alexanderson, K., Fornander, T., et al. (2016). Can breast cancer register data on recommended adjuvant treatment be used as a proxy for actually given treatment? European Journal of Oncology Nursing, 22, 1–7.CrossRefPubMed

38.

Cicero, V., Lo Coco, G., Gullo, S., & Lo, V. G. (2009). The role of attachment dimensions and perceived social support in predicting adjustment to cancer. Psycho-Oncology, 18, 1045–1052. doi:10.1002/pon.1390.CrossRefPubMed

39.

Rizalar, S., Ozbas, A., Akyolcu, N., & Gungor, B. (2014). Effect of perceived social support on psychosocial adjustment of Turkish patients with breast cancer. Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention, 15(8), 3429–3434. doi:10.7314/APJCP.2014.15.8.3429.CrossRefPubMed

40.

Ergh, T. C., Hanks, R. A., Rapport, L. J., & Coleman, R. D. (2003). Social support moderates caregiver life satisfaction following traumatic brain injury. Journal of Clinical and Experimental Neuropsychology, 25(8), 1090–1101. doi:10.1076/jcen.25.8.1090.16735.CrossRefPubMed

41.

Nilsson, M. I., Saboonchi, F., Alexanderson, K., Olsson, M., Wennman-Larsen, A., & Petersson, L. M. (2016). Changes in importance of work and vocational satisfaction during the 2 years after breast cancer surgery and factors associated with this. Cancer Survivorship, 10(3), 564–572. doi:10.1007/s11764.015.0502-7.CrossRef

42.

Breckenridge, L. M., Bruns, G. L., Todd, B. L., & Feuerstein, M. (2012). Cognitive limitations associated with tamoxifen and aromatase inhibitors in employed breast cancer survivors. Psycho-oncology, 21(1), 43–53. doi:10.1002/pon.1860.CrossRefPubMed

43.

Calvio, L., Peugeot, M., Bruns, G., Todd, B., & Feuerstein, M. (2010). Measures of cognitive function and work in occupationally active breast cancer survivors. Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, 52(2), 219–227.CrossRefPubMed

44.

Gyllensköld, K. (1982). Breast cancer: The psychological effects of the disease and its treatment. London: Social Science Paperbacks, Tavistock.

45.

Fallbjork, U., Salander, P., & Rasmussen, B. H. (2012). From “no big deal” to “losing oneself”: Different meanings of mastectomy. Cancer Nursing, 35(5), E41–E48. doi:10.1097/NCC.0b013e31823528fb.CrossRefPubMed

46.

Thors, C. L., Broeckel, J. A., & Jacobsen, P. B. (2001). Sexual functioning in breast cancer survivors. Cancer Control: Journal of the Moffitt Cancer Center, 8(5), 442–448.

47.

Spagnola, S., Zabora, J., BrintzenhoferSzoc, K., Hooker, C., Cohen, G., & Baker, F. (2003). The Satisfaction with life domains scale for breast cancer (SLDS-BC). Breast Journal, 9(6), 463–471.CrossRefPubMed

48.

Karabulut, N., & Erci, B. (2009). Sexual desire and satisfaction in sexual life affecting factors in breast cancer survivors after mastectomy. Journal of Psychosocial Oncology, 27(3), 332–343. doi:10.1080/07347330902979101.CrossRefPubMed

49.

Karlsson, B., Berglin, E., & Wallberg-Jonsson, S. (2006). Life satisfaction in early rheumatoid arthritis: A prospective study. Scandinavian Journal of Occupational Therapy, 13(3), 193–199.CrossRefPubMed

Title: Life satisfaction of women of working age shortly after breast cancer surgery
Authors: Mariann Olsson
Marie Nilsson
Kerstin Fugl-Meyer
Lena-Marie Petersson
Agneta Wennman-Larsen
Linnea Kjeldgård
Kristina Alexanderson
Publication date: 01-03-2017
Publisher: Springer International Publishing
Published in: Quality of Life Research / Issue 3/2017
Print ISSN: 0962-9343
Electronic ISSN: 1573-2649
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11136-016-1479-z

At a glance: The STEP trials

Springer Medicine

Life satisfaction of women of working age shortly after breast cancer surgery

Abstract

Purpose

Methods

Results

Conclusions

At a glance: The STEP trials

Springer Medicine

Abstract

Purpose

Methods

Results

Conclusions

Please log in to get access to this content

Other articles of this Issue 3/2017

Affective disorders and Health-Related Quality of Life (HRQoL) in adolescents and young adults with Multiple Sclerosis (MS): the moderating role of resilience

Quality of life in adults with asthma treated in allergy and pneumology subspecialties: relationship with sociodemographic, clinical and psychological variables

Effect of exercise on the quality of life in type 2 diabetes mellitus: a systematic review

Responsiveness of SF-36 Health Survey and Patient Generated Index in people with chronic knee pain commenced on oral analgesia: analysis of data from a randomised controlled clinical trial

A comparison of children and adolescent’s self-report and parental report of the PedsQL among those with and without autism spectrum disorder

Congruence between polysomnography obstructive sleep apnea and the pediatric sleep questionnaire: fatigue and health-related quality of life in juvenile idiopathic arthritis