Psychological rehabilitation of women with breast diseases: dynamics of quality of life before and after a psychotherapeutic program

Breast cancer remains the most prevalent malignant neoplasm among women and is one of the leading causes of cancer-related mortality. Surgical interventions (particularly mastectomy), chemotherapy, and radiotherapy are frequently associated with substantial psychological distress and deterioration in social functioning and overall quality of life. The present study aimed to examine changes in quality of life among women undergoing treatment for breast diseases across different stages of treatment and rehabilitation, as well as to assess changes associated with psychotherapeutic interventions combining individual and group psychological counseling with art therapy and body-oriented psychotherapy techniques. The study included 60 female patients who completed the WHOQOL-BREF questionnaire at three time points: prior to treatment, after treatment, and during the rehabilitation phase. Statistical analysis revealed significant improvements in microsocial support ( p = 0.010) and social well-being ( p = 0.010) during the rehabilitation period, while physical and psychological wellbeing remained stable. The impact of disease stage on quality-of-life outcomes was also investigated. The results indicated that disease stage was negatively associated with self-perception ( ρ = −0.300, p = 0.024), microsocial support ( ρ = −0.372, p = 0.004), and social wellbeing (ρ = −0.268, p = 0.044). These findings suggest that psychological therapy, delivered through individual and group formats and incorporating art therapy and body-oriented psychotherapy, may be associated with improvements in psychological resilience and social adaptation, particularly in women undergoing treatment for breast diseases.