Abstract
Breast cancer diagnosis and treatment processes affect patients physically and have an impact on their quality of life, even years after receiving treatment. Quality of life pertains to a state of well-being and, by using complementary therapies such as physical activity and exercise rehabilitation during and after cancer treatment, patients and survivors can improve their quality of life and overall health while also negating the deleterious effects of breast cancer and its treatment. The aim of this cross-sectional quantitative study was to determine the quality of life and physical activity levels of female breast cancer patients and survivors in Ekurhuleni, South Africa. In order to achieve this aim, a collated questionnaire making use of the Quality-of-Life Patient/Cancer Survivor Version (2012) and Global Physical Activity Questionnaire (2002) was used to determine participants’ cancer status, quality of life, and physical activity levels during work, travel and leisure. The collated questionnaire was available in hard copies at medical facilities and digitally through the online Google Forms platform. Statistics were computed using the Statistics Package for Social Science (SPSS) with the level of significance set at 95% (p < 0.05), statistical analysis included frequencies, descriptives, reliabilities, cross-tabulations, comparisons and normalities. One hundred female breast cancer patients and survivors with a mean age of 55 years from Ekurhuleni, South Africa took part in this study. In terms of quality of life, the subscale with the highest score was spiritual well-being (6.66 ± 2.07) and the lowest was psychological well-being (4.91 ± 1.93). Significant differences were found in quality of life ratings between breast cancer patients and breast cancer survivors. The findings reflected that the majority of the participants (59%) were meeting the physical activity guidelines when considering activity done during work, travel and leisure. No significant difference was seen in activity participation between breast cancer patients and breast cancer survivors, or those attending private facilities and those attending public facilities. Furthermore, no significant differences were found between quality of life and physical activity classification or type of facility attended. Breast cancer can result in a compromised quality of life, and with the increased prevalence and survival rate of breast cancer patients, both the short- and long-term effects of the condition and its treatments are heightened. Encouraging and maintaining physical activity participation and a healthy lifestyle throughout the breast cancer continuum is a necessary goal for patients to complete their recovery, aid their rehabilitation, improve their quality of life and increase their life expectancy after breast cancer. Key words: breast cancer, physical activity, quality of life, Ekurhuleni.