Psychological Effects of Chemotherapy Experienced by Patients Diagnosed With Breast and Cervical Cancer Attending Kenyatta National Hospital Cancer Treatment Centre (original) (raw)
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International Journal of Research in Medical Sciences
Background: A cancer diagnosis can have a significant impact on mental health and wellbeing. Cancer is the second most common cause of death after heart diseases and it accounted for 9.6 million deaths worldwide in 2018. Various individual psychosocial and contextual factors potentially contribute to the development of anxiety and depression among people with cancer. In comparison with general people, the prevalence of anxiety and depression is frequently found to be higher among cancer patient, but estimates vary due to various factors, such as the type of cancer, treatment setting, and prognosis of disease. The present study was conducted to find out the estimate of depression in cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy and determine the various factors associated with depression.Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted amongst cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy at Department of Oncology, Government Bundelkhand Medical College and Hospital, Sagar from January to April 20...
Psychological Status of Women with Breast Cancer During Chemotherapy
Psicologia, Saúde & Doença
A breast cancer diagnosis and corresponding treatments bring several consequences to women at many distinct levels, particularly on a psychological level with the fast change of their routines and even of their bodies. As such, it seems important to understand to what factors women attribute their psychological state during or shortly after chemotherapy. Therefore, it was carried out a qualitative cross-sectional study with the main objective: to comprehend which factors contribute to women's psychological state, in their perception, during or shortly after the submission to chemotherapy. Twenty-five women with breast cancer submitted to neoadjuvant chemotherapy were recruited through a non-probabilistic convenience sampling method. Data were collected through a structured interview and were analysed using Grounded Theory. Ten categories women consider as factors that contribute to their psychological state were identified: diagnosis' impact; treatment's side effects; psychological symptoms; excessive information; general well-being; social support; personal characteristics; health care; and external factors to the disease. These results show that several factors affect women psychologically during chemotherapy: some negatively and others positively. We concluded that psychologists should give personalised attention to each patient to understand their needs for being more capable of promoting factors that positively contributed to these women psychological state.
Controlled prospective longitudinal study of women with cancer: II. Psychological outcomes
Journal of consulting and clinical …, 1989
The incidence and etiology of major life difficulties for women with survivable cancer were studied. Women with early stage cancer (n = 65) were assessed after their diagnosis but prior to treatment and then reassessed at 4, 8, and 12 months posttreatment. Two matched comparison groups, women diagnosed and treated for benign disease (n = 22) and healthy women (n = 60), were also assessed longitudinally. Results for four life areas are reported: (a) The emotional response to the life-threatening diagnosis and anticipation of treatment was characterized by depressed, anxious, and confused moods, whereas the response for women with benign disease was anxious only. In both cases, these responses were transitory and resolved posttreatment. (b) There was no evidence for a higher incidence of relationship dissolution or poorer marital adjustment; however, 30% of the women treated for disease reported that their sexual partners may have had some difficulty in reaching orgasm (i.e., delayed ejaculation) after the subjects’ treatment. (c) There was no evidence for impaired social adjustment. (d) Women treated for cancer retained their employment and their occupations; however, their involvement (e.g., hours worked per week) was significantly reduced during recovery. These data and those in a companion report (Andersen, Anderson, & deProsse, 1989) suggest “islands” of significant life disruption following cancer, however, these difficulties do not appear to portend global adjustment vulnerability.
Assessment of psychological impact of breast cancer in women
International Journal of Applied Pharmaceutical Sciences and Research, 2016
Objective: The objective is to identify opportunities for improvements in care for cancer patients and their relatives. Method: 53 patients of breast cancer were included in the study. The type of breast cancer was recognized and treatment which is been carried out is studied along with its psychological impact. It was a retrospective observational study. A specially designed patient data collection form has been used which has been prepared with all the requisite features like patient name, demographic information, physical examination, complaints, previous history, diagnosis, investigations, medications and advice to the patients. Results: The patients’ most frequently reported unmet needs were mainly related to the psychological dimensions. Patients are vulnerable to anxiety, distress and depression under treatment and in the post-treatment period. Distress, anxiety and depression were also factors which characterized patients with unmet supportive care needs. Thus Breast cancer ...
Psychological Symptoms of Breast Cancer Survivors
Journal of Psychosocial Oncology, 2007
Background: The incidence of breast cancer in Eastern Country is unexpectedly increasing more than any other types of cancer in women. The purpose of this study was to explore and describe how breast cancer affects well-being of affected women, particularly their physical, emotional, personal and social aspects. Method: For the present study thirty-nine women were interviewed at different stages of diseases. Thirteen patients were recently diagnosed with breast cancer, ten were undergoing chemotherapy, nine were on follow-up and rest consisted of socially rejected once by others for their disease. All participants reported their experience through structured interview. A constructive grounded theory approach was used where includes different areas of domains of problems having impact on daily life. Results: Our study showed that, the reactions of the patients, when they were first informed about their disease is usually the thought of death. After first chemotherapy, behavioral changes were observed, in the form of lack of awareness about side effects. Social factors also play an important role in developing psychological stress. Conclusion: Various stages of diagnostic treatment pathway give rise to a range of unique and diverse influences on physical, emotional social and psychological well-being.
Supportive care in cancer : official journal of the Multinational Association of Supportive Care in Cancer, 2017
Monitoring distress assessment in cancer patients during the treatment phase is a component of good quality care practice. Yet, there is a dearth of prospective studies examining distress. In an attempt to begin filling this gap and inform clinical practice, we conducted a prospective, longitudinal study examining changes in distress (anxiety, depression, and problems in living) by age and gender and the roles of age and gender in predicting distress. Newly diagnosed Brazilian cancer patients (N = 548) were assessed at three time points during chemotherapy. Age and gender were identified on the first day of chemotherapy (T1); anxiety, depression, and problems in living were self-reported at T1, the planned midway point (T2), and the last day of chemotherapy (T3). At T1, 37 and 17% of patients reported clinically significant levels of anxiety and depression, respectively. At T3, the prevalence was reduced to 4.6% for anxiety and 5.1% for depression (p < .001). Patients 40-55 years...
Psychosocial impact of cancer on adult patients
2012
OBJECTIVES To explore the effects of cancer on psychosocial aspects of Pakistani patients and their families, assessing the need for interventions to improve their quality of life. METHODS A prospective, Cross-sectional study was performed on 200 patients visiting the oncology outpatient facility of AKUH from December 2010 to May 2011 through an interview. Responses were recorded on pre-designed questionnaires including FACT-G QOL (Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy-General Quality Of Life) component. RESULTS Out of the 200 patients 52 (26%) were males and 148 (74%) were females. Mean age was 51.8 +/- 14.2 years. Breast cancer accounted for the commonest cancer in females 116 (58%) and lung in males 30 (15%), 100 (50%) patients were currently undergoing chemotherapy. In all 148 (74%) patients were well aware of their diagnosis and were able to cope better and 142 (71%) were well supported by families (majority being financially stable). Major financial impact was found in 42 (2...
Anxiety , Depression in Patients Receiving Chemotherapy for Solid Tumors
2015
Objective: To determine the frequency of anxiety and depression in patients undergoing chemotherapy for solid tumors using Hospital Anxiety Depression Scale (HADS). Study Design: Cross sectional descriptive study. Place and Duration of Study: Out-patient department of Armed Forces Institute of Mental Health, Rawalpindi from June 2011 to December 2011. Methodology: Consecutive non probability sampling technique was used to select patients of age (25-70 years), male or female, who had received atleast 03 cycles of chemotherapy for solid tumors. Those with history of prior psychiatric illness, current use of psychotropic medication or psychoactive substance use, and any major bereavement in past one year were excluded from the study. After taking informed consent, relevant sociodemographic data was collected and HADS was administered. HADS-A cut off score of 7 was taken as significant anxiety while a HADS-D cut off score of 7 was taken as significant depression. Results: The total numb...
Side effects and emotional distress during cancer chemotherapy
Cancer, 1989
Chemotherapy side effects, patient distress, and patient-practitioner communication were evaluated in an inception sample of 238 patients with breast cancer or malignant lymphoma. Participants were interviewed at five points during their first six cycles of therapy, and a subsample kept brief daily symptom diaries. Nausea, hair loss, and tiredness were each experienced by more than 80% of patients. By cycle 6, 46% of patients had thoughts about quitting therapy, but only a few had told medical staff. Patients' ratings of the objective difficulty of treatment increased over time, varied by treatment regimen, and were predicted by the experience of side effects, with the number of different side effects serving as the best predictor. In contrast, emotional distress was less sensitive to the directly assessable characteristics of treatment. Communication between patient and practitioner was found to be inadequate in a number of respects (ie., patients did not fully anticipate the toxicities of treatment and did not report their concerns to medical staff). Communication may be impeded by inaccuracies in a patient's recall of treatment difficulties and by a patient's inability or unwillingness to attend to all presented information. More frequent opportunities for patient-practitioner discussion are necessary.
Psychological problems of patients with cancer
Psychiatria Danubina, 2010
Psycho-oncology is a broad approach to cancer therapy which treats the emotional, social, and spiritual distress which often accompanies cancer patients. The development of psycho-oncology began in the second part of the 20th century reflecting the increased interest in the study of cancer patients' psychological reactions to their illness at all stages of its course, and the analysis of the emotional, spiritual, social, and behavioral factors which influence the risk of developing cancer and long-term aftercare treatment. Today the psycho-oncology has become an accepted part of cancer treatment, with departments of psycho-oncology established in most major cancer centers in Canada, the United States and many Western European countries. A key clinical challenge for the oncologist is differentiating the expected and transient distress associated with cancer from the excessive, disabling distress requiring psychiatric interventions. One third of patients with cancer will experienc...