Cancer is often synonymous with a long and burdensome treatment process for the patient and a deterioration in quality of life (QoL). Attitude towards the disease influences the treatment process, and the level of acceptance of the disease determines the patient's well-being, trust in the medical staff and the treatment methods used, and thus also the success of the therapy. The study involved 112 women diagnosed with breast cancer treated at the Lower Silesian Oncology Centre in Wrocław. Standardised questionnaire tools were used in the study: the AIS disease acceptance scale, the WHOQOL-BREF QoL assessment questionnaire, and the HADS-M anxiety and depression assessment questionnaire. Correlation analysis showed a statistically significant relationship between the level of acceptance of illness and all WHOQOL-BREF QoL areas: somatic (r = 0.47; p < 0.001), psychological (r = 0.40; p < 0.001), social (r = 0.39; p < 0.001) and environmental (r = 0.46; p < 0.001). The correlation analysis of the association of anxiety and depression with illness acceptance scores showed a negative effect of all components of the HADS-M questionnaire on AIS levels, respectively: anxiety (r = -0.51; p < 0.001), depression (r = -0.57; p < 0.001), irritability (r = - 0.32; p = 0.001). A similar relationship was observed when analysing the correlation of anxiety and depression with quality of life in all areas of the WHOQOL-BREF questionnaire. Breast cancer patients show an average level of acceptance of the disease and borderline levels of anxiety and depression. Illness acceptance positively affects QoL, whereas anxiety and depression negatively affect QoL scores.
http://yadda.icm.edu.pl/yadda/element/bwmeta1.element.desklight-94dc0e3b-691e-49ed- a014-49146eb63e17