Anxiety, Depression, and Quality of Life in Breast Cancer Patients Undergoing Chemotherapy in a Tertiary Care Center: A Cross-Sectional Study

This study examined 30 breast cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy in Kerala, India, to assess the prevalence of anxiety and depression and their impact on quality of life (QOL). The results showed that 16.7% of patients experienced anxiety and 20.0% experienced depression, with mild severity for anxiety and 3.3% having moderate depression. Despite these findings, the overall QOL was not affected by anxiety or depression. The physical domain of QOL was notably impacted by chemotherapy-related hair loss and mouth sores, while the psychological domain was linked to a family history of psychiatric illness and chemotherapy-related symptoms. Social relations and environmental domains were influenced by postsurgical status and socioeconomic factors, respectively.