• Journal of Gastric Cancer
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• v.16 no.3
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• pp.182-190
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• 2016

Purpose: This study aimed to establish a large-scale database of patients with gastric cancer to facilitate the development of a nationalcancer management system and a comprehensive cancer control policy. Materials and Methods: An observational prospective cohort study on gastric cancer was initiated in 2010. A total of 14 cancer centers throughout the country and 152 researchers were involved in this study. Patient enrollment began in January 2011, and data regarding clinicopathological characteristics, life style-related factors, quality of life, as well as diet diaries were collected. Results: In total, 4,963 patients were enrolled until December 2014, and approximately 5% of all Korean patients with gastric cancer annually were included. The mean age was $58.2{\pm}11.5$ years, and 68.2% were men. The number of patients in each stage was as follows: 3,394 patients (68.4%) were in stage IA/B; 514 patients (10.4%), in stage IIA/B; 469 patients (9.5%), in stage IIIA/B/C; and 127 patients (2.6%), in stage IV. Surgical treatment was performed in 3,958 patients (79.8%), endoscopic resection was performed in 700 patients (14.1%), and 167 patients (3.4%) received palliative chemotherapy. The response rate for the questionnaire on the quality of life was 95%; however, diet diaries were only collected for 27% of patients. Conclusions: To provide comprehensive information on gastric cancer for patients, physicians, and government officials, a large-scale database of Korean patients with gastric cancer was established. Based on the findings of this cohort study, an effective cancer management system and national cancer control policy could be developed.

• Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing
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• v.25 no.3
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• pp.419-430
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• 1995

There is a need to investigate folk remedies used by patients with breast cancer because there is little information about the subject, even though many Korean women with breast cancer have used folk remedies during and after their treatment. The purpose of this study was to investigate and describe the phenomena and the meaning of folk remedies in order to better understand patients with breast cancer and to suggest directions for comprehensive nursing care. The Questions for the study were as follows What kinds of folk remedies do patients with breast cancer use\ulcorner What are the routes of knowing about folk remedies in patients with breast cancer\ulcorner What are the patterns of the usage of the folk remedies\ulcorner Why do patients with breast cancer use folk remedies\ulcorner What are the meanings of folk remedies to patients with breast cancer\ulcorner To answer these questions, a qualitative research method was used. Thirty-nine patients were recruited from university teaching hospitals from March, 1993 to November 1994. Many of them underwent either modified radical mastectomy or received various adjuvant therapy including chemotherapy, radiation therapy, and hormonal therapy. Data were collected by in-depth interviews, observations, medical records, and analyzed step-by-step using qualitative analysis. The results were as follows : 1. Patients with breast cancer have used many different kinds of folk remedies. 2. Patients with breast cancer did not know the exact effects of the folk remedies. Also the effects could not be exactly proven by the patients. 3. Patients with breast cancer received information about many kinds of folk remedies through various communication systems, such as other patients, their families and relatives, friends, and many types of mass media. 4. To use the folk remedies was one kind of illness behavior that was used by these patients. 5. Folk remedies were used to deal with not only anxiety by the patients themselves but also as the expression of affection and concern by families and relatives. 6. The use of folk remedies was one of the adaptation behaviors in patients with breast cancer whose disease was in the terminal stage. Based on the above findings, one suggestion was made : To continue further studies on folk remedies used by other patients with cancer in order to further explain health and illness behavior of Korean people.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.17 no.9
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• pp.4401-4404
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• 2016

Purpose: To assess the prevalence of malnutrition in gynecologic cancer patients using the Scored Patient-Generated Subjective Global Assessment (PG-SGA) questionnaire. Materials and Methods: A total of 97 gynecologic cancer patients who never had any treatment but were planned for surgery were enrolled. The patients were asked to complete the scored PG-SGA form before the treatment was started. Attending physicians were also asked to complete other information in the PG-SGA form. Total scores were calculated and the patients were classified into 3 nutritional status levels. Results: Mean age was 54 years. Postoperative diagnoses were endometrial cancer in 42 cases (43.2%), ovarian cancer in 29 cases (29.9%), and cervical cancer in 26 cases (26.8%). Mean PG-SGA score was 5.2+4.7. Malnutrition (PG-SGA B and C) was found in 52 patients (53.6%, 95% CI 43.7% - 63.2%). Preoperative BMI, hemoglobin, serum albumin, and cancer stage were not significantly associated with nutritional status. Malnutrition was significantly more common among patients diagnosed with ovarian cancer, compared to other types of cancer (79.3% vs. 42.6%, p 0.004). Conclusions: Prevalence of malnutrition among gynecologic cancer patients was 53.5%, according to the scored PG-SGA. Malnutrition was significantly more common among patients with ovarian cancer.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.16 no.18
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• pp.8173-8176
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• 2016

Cancer patients frequently experience malnutrition. Cancer and cancer therapy effects nutritional status through alterations in the metabolic system and reduction in food intake. In the present study, fifty seven cancer patients were selected as subjects from the oncology ward of Cachar Cancer Hospital and Research Centre, Silchar, India. Evaluation of nutritional status of cancer patients during treatment was carried out by scored Patient-Generated Subjective Global Assessment (PG-SGA). The findings of PG-SGA showed that 15.8% (9) were well nourished, 31.6% (18) were moderately or suspected of being malnourished and 52.6% (30) were severely malnourished. The prevalence of malnutrition was highest in lip/oral (33.33%) cancer patients. The study showed that the prevalence of malnutrition (84.2%) was high in cancer patients during treatment.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.38 no.3
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• pp.319-326
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• 2017

Objective: The purpose of this study was to survey the general perspectives of cancer patients on Korean medicine (KM) treatments. Method: The after focus-group discussion consisted of six cancer patients. The questionnaire items were decided. Fifty randomized cancer patients completed the online survey questionnaire regarding the perspectives of KM in cancer treatment. Results: Cancer patients considered KM to be a treatment performed both by KM doctors (92%) and by others (46%), such as private practitioners. Cancer patients thought of KM treatment as effective (68%) and safe (64%), but not scientific (60%). The answers of the cancer patients regarded whether the KM treatment experiences were different in purpose, satisfaction, and types of KM treatment. The experienced KM cancer patients thought of the optimal purpose of KM as alleviating symptoms or side effects (73.7%). Experienced patients were more satisfied with KM and they preferred acupuncture and moxibustion to thermotherapy. Conclusion: Cancer patients consider KM treatment effective and safe, but not scientific. Cancer patients who are experienced with KM are favorable to KM treatment. The direction of future studies of KM in cancer care should be considered based on these findings.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.16 no.4
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• pp.1545-1551
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• 2015

Purpose: Rectal cancers with high microsatellite-instable have clinical and pathological features that differentiate them from microsatellite-stable or low-frequency carcinomas, which was studied rarely in stage II rectal cancer, promoting the present investigation of the usefulness of microsatellite-instability status as a predictor of the benefit of adjuvant chemotherapy with fluorouracil in stage II rectal cancer. Patients and Methods: Data of 460 patients who underwent primary anterior resection with a double stapling technique for rectal carcinoma at a single institution from 2008 to 2012 were retrospectively collected. All patients experienced a total mesorectal excision (TME) operation. Survival analysis were analyzed using the Cox regression method. Results: Five-year rate of disease-free survival (DFS) was noted in 390 (84.8%) of 460 patients with stage II rectal cancer. Of 460 tissue specimens, 97 (21.1%) exhibited high-frequency microsatellite instability. Median age of the patients was 65 (50-71) and 185 (40.2%) were male. After univariate and multivariate analysis, microsatellite instability (p= 0.001), female sex (p<0.05) and fluorouracil-based adjuvant chemotherapy (p<0.001), the 3 factors were attributed to a favorable survival status independently. Among 201 patients who did not receive adjuvant chemotherapy, those cancers displaying high-frequency microsatellite instability had a better 5-year rate of DFS than tumors exhibiting microsatellite stability or low-frequency instability (HR, 13.61 [95% CI, 1.88 to 99.28]; p= 0.010), while in 259 patients who received adjuvant chemotherapy, there was no DFS difference between the two groups (p= 0.145). Furthermore, patients exhibiting microsatellite stability or low-frequency instability who received adjuvant chemotherapy had a better 5-year rate of DFS than patients did not (HR, 5.16 [95% CI, 2.90 to 9.18]; p<0.001), while patients exhibiting high-frequency microsatellite instability were not connected with increased DFS (p= 0.696). It was implied that female patients had better survival than male. Conclusion: Survival status after anterior resection of rectal carcinoma is related to the microsatellite instability status, adjuvant chemotherapy and gender. Fluorouracil-based adjuvant chemotherapy benefits patients of stage II rectal cancer with microsatellite-stable or low microsatellite-instable, but not those with high microsatellite-instable. Additionally, free of adjuvant chemotherapy, carcinomas with high microsatellite-instable have a better 5-year rate of DFS than those with microsatellite-stable or low microsatellite-instable, and female patients have a better survival as well.

• Journal of Gastric Cancer
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• v.15 no.2
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• pp.121-126
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• 2015

Purpose: We evaluated the socio-personal and clinical factors that can affect preoperative quality of life to determine how to improve preoperative quality of life in patients with gastric cancer. Materials and Methods: The preoperative quality of life data of 200 patients (68 females and 132 males; mean age $58.9{\pm}12.6years$) with gastric cancer were analyzed according to socio-personal and clinical factors. The Korean versions of the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORTC) Quality of Life Questionnaire Core (QLQ) 30 and the EORTC QLQ-STO22, a gastric cancer-specific module, were used to assess quality of life. Patients were asked to complete the questionnaire preoperatively by themselves. Results: Patients with a higher academic background and stage I disease tended to have higher global health status scores. Highly educated younger men had better physical functioning scores. Highly educated and well-nourished patients with stage I cancer had higher role functioning scores. Married patients had better emotional scores. The symptom scales were affected by sex, age, education level, nutrition, and cancer stage. Conclusions: Preoperative quality of life in patients with gastric cancer can be improved by nutritional support and treatment of symptoms caused by disease progression. Psychological support may be helpful for patients with a poor quality of life.

• Korean Journal of Adult Nursing
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• v.22 no.6
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• pp.570-581
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• 2010

Purpose: This study was conducted to develop a Cancer Patient Guide with patients involvement using evidenced based practice research. The purpose of this patient guide was to help patients undergoing chemotherapy to manage their nausea and vomiting based on evidence. Methods: The design of the research was a methodological study. The participants consisted of seven cancer patients who were asked about their ' need for nausea and vomiting management, and secondly, 16 expert & 15 cancer patients to evaluate the Cancer Patient Guide using the DESCERN tool. Results: 1) Sixty-four relevant research evidences based articles were reviewed. 2) Patients were interviewed as to their needs in controlling nausea and vomiting. 3) The preliminary Cancer Patient Guide utilizing the research evidenced and the cancer patients interviews was then evaluated and revised by the experts and cancer patients. Lastly, the Cancer Patient which included an overview of chemotherapy, pathophysiology of nausea & vomiting, pharmacological and non-pharmacological interventions was finalized with each intervention supported by research evidence and patients' narratives of their experience. Conclusion: The Cancer Patient Guide was developed using evidenced based research and cancer patients in-put and be used to improve patients' self-management skill of nausea and vomiting in chemotherapy. The guide t also provides evidence based patient friendly information and contributes as a baseline data for developing and evaluating evidence-based guide for patients.

• Journal of agricultural medicine and community health
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• v.30 no.3
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• pp.293-303
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• 2005

Objectives: Yearly, annual report of cancer patients in Korea is released by National Cancer Center. But, this report is focused in all of the patients in nation. So, there is needed to modify and analyze this report to be used properly for local resident. In Ulleung island, local county and Ulleung medical center don't have cancer occurrence data of local resident until now. The aim of this analysis is to know characteristics and data of cancer patients occurrence in Ulleung island for 10 years. Methods: We are offered data of cancer patients occurrence in Ulleung island for 10 years from National Cancer Center. This data was composed of sex, address (only town level), diagnosed date, diagnosis. So, we analyze this data and compare to Korea data for same duration. Results: There were 268 patients for 10 years (1993-2002). Man were 175 about 65% and women were 93 about 35%. There were 163 in Ulleungeup about 60%, 39 in Seomyun about 14.5% and 48 in Bukmyun about 18%. There were 19 patients in unknown residence. After 1998, above 30 patients were occurred, but before 1998, below 27 patients were occurred. Diagnosed date was concentrated in June, 33 patients were occurred about 12%, but least occurred month was December. Most occurred age were from 60 to 69, there were 80 patients about 30%. Most occurred cancer was gastric cancer, there were 54 patients about 20%. Hepatic cancer was second and third was lung cancer. In man, most occurred cancers were gastric cancer and hepatic cancer, both was 38 patients. In woman, gastric cancer and uterine cervix cancer were occurred mostly. After 2001, in Korea most occurred female cancer was breast, but in Ulleung island, most occurred cancer was stomach. Conclusions: Researcher should demand and analyze cancer data from National Cancer Center that cancer management project in local county and public health education of cancer could focus on local resident because annually released cancer data from National Cancer Center focus on a nation. In Ulleung island, cancer incidence was more than incidence in Korea and breast cancer was occurred less than in Korea. So, more study should be needed to confirm why more cancer were occurred than Korea and breast cancer was less occurred.

• Journal of Gastric Cancer
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• v.19 no.1
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• pp.92-101
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• 2019

Purpose: The aim of this study was to evaluate the trend of non-compliance with treatment (NCT) among gastric cancer patients in the Korean population. Materials and Methods: Using data from the Korea Central Cancer Registry from 1999 to 2015, patients who did not receive any treatment for gastric cancer within 4 months after diagnosis were defined as the NCT group. The annual incidence rate, distributions according to age group and stage, and 5-year relative survival of the patients exhibiting NCT were analyzed. Results: The number of NCT patients was 5,871 (30.6%) in 1999 and continuously decreased to 4,434 (15.3%) in 2015. Between 2006 and 2015, the proportions of NCT patients decreased from 72.9% to 55.0% among those 80 years old or older and from 9.2% to 5.4% among patients younger than 40 years. In patients with distant metastases, this proportion decreased from 35.5% to 32.7%, and this proportion also decreased from 17.6% to 8.2% among those with localized disease. The 5-year relative survival rates of NCT patients between 2011 and 2015 were significantly lower than those of the treated patients in each stage (60.2% vs. 99.7%, 13.8% vs. 67.1%, and 2.0% vs. 8.3% among those with localized, regional, and distant disease, respectively). Conclusions: The proportion of NCT gastric cancer patients has decreased during the last 16 years. However, considerable numbers of elderly patients are still NCT. There must be a strategy to decrease NCT and improve the nationwide survival rate of patients with gastric cancer.