‘Quality of Life Determinants in Breast Cancer Patients in Central Rural India’ Brief Review

This study had a ton to unpack, in all honesty. The idea that a person’s belief in themselves to be self-sufficient legitimately holds some statistical influence on their ability to live through exposure to cancer and treatment is surprising. Prior to this study, I assumed that the data-driven research would determine that such an idea is close to the data-driven research concerning ‘hot and cold’ shooters in basketball — that such beliefs are simply a failure of the human mind to properly apply probability rates.

Furthermore, the distinction between religions in this study (Hindu v. others) bearing substantive difference is a great source of insight into the value of religion as a determinant of lifestyle, with Hindus being found to have better social relationships than the ‘other’ category. I’m unsure what conclusions to draw from the fact that ‘others’ had higher physical and psychological QOL scores, though, in large part due to the fact that ‘others’ is obviously a bit vague.

As seen in other studies, increased levels of education and income corresponded to higher QOL scores in all areas. While, again, not revolutionary information, I do think it is important to recognize the continued role of financial comfort during cancer treatment.

Similar to other studies, an immediately fixable source of assistance comes in the form of greater support by the people a patient cares about. QOL continues to be shown, time and time again, to impact survival rates, and as such should be helped by a patient’s loved ones especially, as it’s the area that’s most readily fixable by the average person. In short, be there for people!

References I’ll likely pursue include Changes in quality of life among newly diagnosed breast cancer patients in Taiwan, Reasons for low quality of life in south Indian cancer patient population: A prospective observational study, and distress levels in patients undergoing chemotherapy in Brazil, amongst around a half-dozen others. While a bit small in scope, this article was exactly the type that I’m looking for, and had references of the same vein.