Perceptions of symptoms and quality of life in breast cancer patients: a qualitative comparative study of young and older adults

Abstract Purpose This study aims to identify symptoms and concerns experienced by patients at different treatment stages through qualitative research, develop quality-of-life measurement domains, and understand the age-specific status and needs for health care services. Methods Purposive sampling was employed to select 38 breast cancer patients from a tertiary hospital for semi-structured interviews conducted between August and October 2024. The interview recordings were transcribed and analyzed by two researchers. The traditional content analysis and thematic analysis were used to identify the common codes, subthemes, and themes. The number of patients affected by each theme and their corresponding proportions were calculated to reflect the concerns and needs of patients across different age stages. Results Five key themes were identified: physical symptoms, psychological symptoms, activities of daily living, family functioning, and social functioning. Within physiological symptoms, specific symptoms related to surgery, chemotherapy, and endocrine therapy were distinguished, leading to the construction of quality-of-life measurement modules. Compared with their younger counterparts elderly patients demonstrated more surgical incision numbness (62.5% vs. 20.7%), Peripheral neuropathy (77.8% vs. 55.2%), and limited walking and exercise capacity (66.7% vs. 34.5%). Conclusion This study highlights the symptom-related distress and quality-of-life issues faced by breast cancer patients at various treatment stages. The differences identified between age groups will support personalized patient care strategies.