Assessment of the quality of life in patients submitted to chemotherapy in Hospital Heliópolis

Abstract

We studied 49 patients submitted to chemotherapy at Hospital Heliópolis - São Paulo to assess their perception on their quality of life,, from August to October 2002. There were 21 females and 28 males. Mean age was 53 years and median, 67 years. The results show that concentration and memory in males or females was not compromised by the treatment. Thirty caucasian and 19 non-caucasian subjects did not feel nauseated from treatment neither had to face financial hardships during the treatment. The patients treated by surgery or radiotherapy did not feel their quality of life worsen. Forty percent (40%) of patients ranging from 41 to 60 years did not have troubles performing leisure activities. Nervousness did not interfere with treatment, neither did depression worsen with the treatment. We concluded that high quality of life depended on the compliance to treatment and on how one comped with stress.