Breast cancer is the second most common cancer in the West Indies and the leading cancer in women. With 215 new cases in Guadeloupe, 204 in Martinique and 56 in French Guiana each year, it accounts for 37%, 33% and 26% of incident cancer cases in women respectively, but also affects men. Its incidence, lower than in France, is increasing over the period 2008-2014. The diagnostic and therapeutic management of cancer can have an impact on the quality of life of patients, taking into account the adverse effects occurring during and after treatment, both in the short and long term. The European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORTC) has developed a series of questionnaires to assess the quality of life of cancer patients, including a general questionnaire (QLQ-C30) and specific modules for breast cancer (EORTC BREAST (EORTC QLQ-BR23)) with the objective of improving professional practices.
Cancer and its treatments can be factors that alter the quality of life of patients. The induced alteration of the quality of life can influence compliance and impact survival. Considering the after-effects of the treatment, carrying out such a survey will provide for the first time precise information on the main determinants of the quality of life as well as on the care pathway of patients with invasive breast cancer in the Martinique region.