Objective. Various investigations have shown the sense of coherence to influence quality of life: the stronger the sense of coherence, the better quality of life. The interrelation between the sense of coherence and quality of life among cancer patients has not been given comprehensive studies. The aim of the present investigation was to analyse the interrelation between the sense of coherence and quality of life in Lithuanian females with early stages of breast cancer in the early post-operative period.
Materials and methods. The study cohort included 100 female patients with cT1–T2 / N0–N1 / M0 stages of breast cancer, treated at the Breast Surgery and Oncology Department, 4–12 days after surgery. The study participants filled in the EORTC QLQC30, EORTC QLQ-BR23 quality of life questionnaires and the Sence of Coherence Scale SOC-13.
Results. Females with a higher level of sense of coherence after breast conserving treatment showed a better emotional functioning and suffered less fatigue and pain. Females with a higher level of the sense of coherence after breast conserving treatment had more rare systemic therapy side effects and breast and arm symptoms. After mastectomy, patients with a higher level of the sense of coherence showed a better physical, emotional, cognitive and social functioning, they were less suffering from fatigue and loss of apetite, and also more rarely had financial difficulties, more rarely complained of systemic therapy side effects and breast symptoms, they felt less stressed by body image and future perspective changes. The difference was statistically significant (p < 0.05).
Conclusions. Our findings suggest that the sense of coherence could be essential for the quality of life of breast cancer patients in the early post-operative period.

Keywords: sense of coherence, quality of life, breast cancer