Quality of life in older women with breast cancer

Background: The number of elderly patients with breast cancer is increasing. With an increasing number of women surviving breast cancer beyond treatment, Quality of life in patients with breast cancer is an important outcome. aime of the study was Compare the quality of life in elderly women to younger women with breast cancer. Methods:This is an analytical descriptive study on 160 women with breast cancer in educational and therapeutic hospitals in Rasht in 2012. In this study, women were in the age group under 50 years (80patients) and 50 years and older (80 patients). Data were collected by demoghraphic information and Health-Related Quality of Life(WHOQOL-BREF) questionnaire. Data were analyzed using SPSS software version 16, And analytical statistics. Results: 48.8 % of women under 50 years and 51.2% over 50 years(range28-82 year). The average age of elderly women 58.13±7.17 years and younger women 42.66±5.22 years. Results showed that the average quality of life in the elderly 46.90±8.90 against the quality of life of younger women 50.46±8.92, which was statistically lower quality of life than younger women (P=0.005) and also was a significant relationship in all areas of physical (P=0.005), mental (p=0.02), social (p=03), environment (p=0.02) Conclusions: This study showed that breast cancer can impact on quality of life older women more than younger women, As a result, special attention to this age group of patients and providing care and education to improve the living conditions will be important.