Assessment of quality of life for cancer patients : lessons from a study in a tertiary care hospital in Uttar Pradesh, India

Cancer is a deadly disease that puts not only physical and financial pressure on the patient but also even more psychological pressure.

Physical deterioration in health and financial losses are easy to see but the psychological effects are not as visible; however, the psychological aspects are an important component in measuring any patient’s Quality of Life (QoL, or balance between physical, psychological, social, and spiritual components). The present study is a small step in the direction of measuring QoL of cancer patients and the potential positive impact of changes in counselling.

The association between QoL and other parameters, especially fear, leads to the recommendation to set up counselling centres at each hospital in its oncology department.