The institution of a Multi-disciplinary Italian Breast Unit: Reflections of the first psychosocial research study results on distress and quality of life

Breast cancer affects patients both emotionally and physically. It is time to consider distress as the sixth vital sign in breast cancer patients in Europe. Between 2012 and 2015, our EUSOMA-certified multi-disciplinary group conducted a study on emotional distress and quality-of-life in breast cancer patients at diagnosis, and observed their trend over the first 8 months of treatment. One hundred and forty-nine patients concluded the program. The psycho-oncologist and the breast nurses gave out SF36, Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale and Distress Thermometer. Our Italian data go along with the reported literature on distress and quality-of-life. Despite modern advances, experiencing breast cancer impacts on overall quality-of-life.