Underlying Psychological Factors among Cases under Breast Cancer Treatment

Breast Cancer is the most common cancer among women and coping with the illness is a challenge for any one. The aim of the present study is to compare the mental adjustment to cancer, depression and quality of life of patients with breast cancer undergoing chemotherapy or radiotherapy. Sixty patients diagnosed with breast cancer in the age-range of 30–60 years who are attending as out-patients were divided into two groups on the basis of treatment modalities. They were assessed by the following instruments: the Mental Adjustment to Cancer (MAC) scale, Beck Depression Inventory (BDI-II) and Quality of Life – Cancer (QOL-C) scale. The results indicated that patients in both groups adopted negative mental adjustment responses and the chemotherapy group is more distressed than the radiotherapy group.