“…3 Factors that affect the QoL of women with breast cancer can be classified into 4 groups: sociodemographic variables (age, sex, relationship status, education), clinical variables (TNM stage, cancer type, treatment, symptoms and side effects, pain, functional performance), psycho-social variables (acceptance of illness, coherence), and health-related beliefs (strategies for coping with the disease or with pain). 4 Illness is undoubtedly a source of stress, and may be perceived by the patient as a loss (harm), threat, or challenge. Patients' behaviours and reactions depend on a number of factors, including treatment options and conditions, disease course, and individual characteristics (temperament, coping with stress, knowledge, personality, internal resources: social support and socio-economic status).…”