Browsing by Subject "Questionnaires"

Background: We only know a little about healthy women’s preferences for breast cancer treatment. In this study we examined demographic and other factors that may influence these treatment preferences. Our interest was specially focused on who preferred the lightest cancer treatment. Methods: A survey including questions on lifestyle, quality of life and health was sent to 10 000 randomly selected 49 - year- old women in Finland. The survey covered womens’ treatment preferences for breast cancer. Associations between the treatment preferences and demographic factors were analyzed with cross tabulations and logistic regression. Results: 53% women participated in the survey. These women had different treatment preferences. However the most common wish was any treatment that would definitely remove the tumor. Women that were married or in a relationship, and women who attended the working life, were less likely to prefer the lightest and the most saving treatment. Women who wished for the lightest treatment didn’t worry about breast cancer nor did they have relatives that had been through breast cancer treatment. Conclusions: Anxiety over cancer and fear of losing your family may be the reasons why married women and those with more worries about breast cancer did not prefer the lightest treatment. Although there were different views in how to treat breast cancer, majority of women would prefer any treatment to assure a successful result.