Quality Of Life Of Women Living With Metastatic Breast Cancer And Receiving Palliative Care: A Systematic Review

The quality of life (QoL) of women living with metastatic breast cancer and receiving palliative care needs more attention. We reviewed published studies (1992-2019) examining QoL of women receiving palliative care. The findings were interpreted according to the World Health Organization's (WHO) definition of palliative care. Four themes emerged: (1) the impact of medical treatment on pain relief; (2) the need for psychosocial attention and support; (3) the necessity of an interdisciplinary approach; (4) ambiguous understanding of the term palliative care. A common understanding of the term palliative care and more research is needed to enhance the QoL of women living with metastatic breast cancer.