• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• 제19권2호
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• pp.266-270
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• 2006

A case of an epidural abscess, a rare but possibly devastating complication of epidural instrumentation and catheterization, which occurred in a cancer pain patient with an epidural port connected to the epidural catheter, is described. Although cases of a catheter related epidural abscess have been intermittently reported, those following epidural port implantation are very rare, with no case having been reported in Korea. Herein, the case of a 31-year-old man, who developed an epidural abscess 54 days after subcutaneous implantation of an epidural port connected to an epidural catheter, is reported. Methicillin-sensitive staphylococcus aureus was detected in a culture of the purulent discharge. Magnetic resonance imaging was essential, not only for the diagnosis of the epidural abscess, but also for determining the extent of spread. The patient refused further evaluation and treatment, and expired 22 days later.

• 종양간호연구
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• 제7권2호
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• pp.169-178
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• 2007

Purpose: This study was to identify the relationship between depression and spiritual health in patients suffering from female cancer. Methods: The study utilized a cross-sectional descriptive study design. Data was collected by questionnaires from 106 female patients who were diagnosed with cancer of female organs at three university hospitals and one general hospital. The instruments used in this study included, "the Depression Scale" developed by Zung(1965) and "Spirituality Health Inventory" developed by Highfield(1992) and amended by Kim. The collected data were analyzed using frequency, percentage, t-test, ANOVA, and Pearson's correlation coefficients. Results: There was significantly negative correlation between spiritual health and depression in female cancer patients (r= -.65, p< .0001). There were significant differences in spiritual health according to the monthly income (F=4.30, p= .016), the degree of pain (F=2.85, p= .041), the degree of fatigue (F=3.42, p= .020), the frequency of attendance at worship services (F=3.26, p= .014), the effect of religion on personal life (F=9.41, p= .000). There were significant differences in depression, according to the residence type (F= .75, p= .012), the cancer insurance (t=7.86, p= .006), the degree of pain (F=2.78, p= .045). Conclusions: There is a necessity to develop strategies to improve the spiritual health and to reduce depression in female cancer patients. The significant several characteristics related to depression and spiritual health should be considered in psychsocial nursing intervention of female cancer patients.

• Maxillofacial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery
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• 제38권
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• pp.6.1-6.8
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• 2016

Background: Intravenous bisphosphonates have been used in metastatic breast cancer patients to reduce pathologic bone fracture and bone pain. However, necrosis of the jaw has been reported in those who received intravenous bisphosphonates. Bisphosphonate-related osteonecrosis of the jaw (BRONJ) is caused by dental extraction, dental implant surgery, and denture wearing; however, it occurs spontaneously. The purpose of this study was to report BRONJ in metastatic breast cancer patients. Methods: Consecutive 25 female patients were referred from the Department of Oncology from 2008 to 2014 for jaw bone discomfort. Staging of breast cancer, history of bisphosphonate infusion, etiology of BRONJ, and treatment results were reviewed. Average age of the patients was 55.4 years old (38-74). Twelve maxillae and 16 mandibles were involved. Conservative treatments such as irrigation, antibiotic medication, analgesics, and oral gargle were applied for all patients for the initial treatment. Patients who had sequestrum underwent debridement and primary closure. Results: The etiologies of BRONJ were dental extraction (19 cases), dental implant (2 cases), and endodontic treatment (1 case). However, three patients did not have any risk factors to cause BRONJ. Three patients died of progression of metastasis during follow-up periods. Surgical debridement was performed in 21 patients with success in 18 patients. Three patients showed recurred bone exposure and infection after operation. Conclusions: Prevention of the BRONJ is critical in metastatic breast cancer patients. Conservative treatment to reduce pain, discomfort, and infection is recommended for the initial therapy. However, if there is a sequestrum, surgical debridement and primary closure is the key to treat the BRONJ.

• Journal of the Korean Data and Information Science Society
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• 제26권6호
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• pp.1327-1334
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• 2015

난치성 암환자의 암성통증은 암환자의 삶의 질을 지극히 떨어뜨리는 중요한 요인이다. 전 세계적으로 암성 통증을 줄이기 위한 노력으로 양방과 한방의 통합적 치료방법이 증가하는 추세이다. 국내외 적으로도 통합적 접근을 통한 암성통증과 관련된 연구가 지속적으로 이루어지고 있으며 암 치료에 있어서는 화학요법으로 인한 오심이나 구토를 조절하기 위해 표준화된 항구토제와 병용한 침 치료가 효과적임을 보고한 무작위대조군 임상연구가 있다. 여러 연구에서 암으로 인한 피로, 방사선 치료로 인한 구강 건조증, 그리고 불면, 불안, 삶의 질 등에 침치료가 효과적이라고 보고한 바 있다. 그러나 침치료의 실제적인 임상적 효과와 다양한 증례 보고 에도 불구하고, 침을 이용한 통합치료의 진통 감소효과의 유의성에 대해서는 아직 이견이 많다. 이에 따라 본 연구에서는 전 세계 출판된 논문검색을 통하여 침을 이용한 양 한방 통합치료로 인해 암성통증의 감소효과를 파악하고 각 논문에서 제시하는 값을 종합하여 침을 이용한 통합치료의 효과가 어느 정도인지를 평가하기 보았다.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• 제14권7호
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• pp.4053-4056
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• 2013

Background: Colposcopy is the gold standard procedure for evaluating cervical cytological abnormalities. Although it is essentially a minimally invasive intervention, referral for colposcopy may cause significant distress on patients. In this study, we aimed to determine if pre-procedural anxiety levels have a significant association with procedure related pain and discomfort in women undergoing colposcopy for evaluation of abnormal cervical cytology. We also assessed the impact of various clinical factors on anxiety, pain and discomfort in these patients. Materials and Methods: This prospective study was performed at the gynecologic oncology department of Zekai Tahir Burak Women's Health Education and Research Hospital in Ankara, Turkey between January and June 2013. After taking informed consent, State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI) form and a 14-item questionnaire were filled for women who were admitted to our outpatient colposcopy unit for evaluation of abnormal cervical cytology. STAI scores were calculated for each participant. Immediately after the procedure, visual analog scale (VAS) scores for procedure-related pain and discomfort were obtained. Associations between STAI and VAS scores were investigated using correlation analyses. The effect of various contributing factors on anxiety, pain and discomfort were evaluated with linear regression analysis. The p values less than 0.05 were considered statistically significant. Results: A total of 222 women met the inclusion criteria within the study period. Mean patient age was $38.5{\pm}9.6$. Median state and trait anxiety scores were 47 and 46, respectively. Median VAS scores for pain and discomfort were 4 for both variables. State anxiety had a significant correlation with procedure related discomfort (p=0.02). Colposcopy related pain VAS scores were significantly affected by state anxiety level, marital status and prior gynecological examination (p<0.05). Colposcopy related discomfort VAS scores were significantly affected by state anxiety level, marital status, prior gynecological examination and educational status. Conclusions: Additional measures should be implemented in women that carry higher risk for experiencing pain and discomfort. Social, cultural and lifestyle issues may also affect women's experiences during colposcopy, therefore further studies are needed to define specific determining factors in various populations.

• 대한간호학회지
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• 제29권4호
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• pp.755-765
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• 1999

Most people experience fatigue at some point in their lives, and they say the word ‘fatigue’ in their ordinary conversational speech. The ordinary word is used as a military or engineering term and has been studied in various different disciplines, such as ergonomics, physiology, psychology, medicine, and nursing. In spite of its widespread uses, however, fatigue has not been well defined. The term of fatigue Is thus often used with different meanings and is applied in diverse contexts that had led to a confusion of ideas. In people with cancer, fatigue is reported as a major distress. Despite the importance of fatigue in cancer patients, the phenomena of fatigue is poorly understood. Therefore, the purpose of the present study is to analyze the concept of fatigue in people with cancer. The process for the concept analysis was guided by Walker and Avant's conceptual analysis methodology. The identified attributes of fatigue in the present study were subjective feeling, lack of energy, sustenance, and multidimensions. The antecedents were cancer treatment and economic status. The consequences were decreased daily, vocational, leisure, and social activities, uncertainty, and difficulties in adjustment. Symptoms (pain, anorexia, and insomnia) and emotional disturbance were not clear whether they are antecedents or consequences. However, they are related with cancer related fatigue. Even though still in the beginning stage, instruments measuring cancer related fatigue have been developed by some nursing investigators.

• 대한암한의학회지
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• 제23권2호
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• pp.27-33
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• 2018

Objective: The purpose of this study is to report the therapeutic possibility of a primary peritoneal carcinoma (PPC) patient with Traditional Korean Medicine (TKM). Methods: A 37 years old female patient diagnosed with PPC suffered from operation site pain, neck pain, nausea, headache and fatigue after undergoing operation and chemotherapy (Paclitaxel/Carboplain). The patient was treated with acupuncture, pharmacoacupuncture, moxibution and herbal medicine. Laboratory study and National Cancer Institute Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events (NCI-CTCAE), version 5.0 were used to evaluate the safety and adverse events of treatments. The performance status was measured by Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) scale. Results: After treatments, cancer did not show any progression. Related symptoms such as postoperative pain, nausea, fatigue and quality of life have improved. Conclusion: This case study implies that TKM may have therapeutic possibility in treating PPC patient.

• 성인간호학회지
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• 제21권6호
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• pp.705-717
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• 2009

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to identify symptom clusters in patients with breast cancer and to investigate the associations among them with functional status and quality of life (QOL). Methods: A convenient sample of 303 patients was recruited from an oncology-specialized hospital. Results: Two distinct clusters were identified: A gastrointestinal- fatigue cluster and a pain cluster. Each cluster significantly influenced functional status and QOL. Based on these two clusters, we identified subgroups of symptom clusters using K-means cluster analysis. Three relatively distinct patient subgroups were identified in each cluster: mild, moderate, and severe group. Disease-related factors (i.e., stage, metastasis, type of surgery, current chemotherapy, and anti-hormone therapy) were associated with these subgroups of symptom clusters. There were significant differences in functional status and QOL among the three subgroups. The subgroup of patients who reported high levels of symptom clusters reported poorer functional status and QOL. Conclusion: Clinicians can anticipate that breast cancer patients with advanced stage, metastasis, and who receive mastectomy, and chemotherapy will have more intense gastrointestinal-fatigue or pain symptoms. In order to enhance functional status and QOL for patients with breast cancer, collective management for symptoms in a cluster may be beneficial.

• 생물정신의학
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• 제13권2호
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• pp.59-69
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• 2006

Bidirectional relationships exist between cancer and depression; the prevalence of depression in cancer patients is higher than in the general population, and depression predicts cancer progression and mortality. The mechanisms through which depression contributes to the progression of cancer are related with dysregulation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis and impairment of immune function. However, depression in cancer patients tends to be underdiagnosed and not appropriately treated. The methods of diagnosis and assessment of depression in cancer patents have been debated because physical symptoms of depression mimic both cancer symptoms per se and the side effects of cancer treatment. Many studies have shown that various psychosocial and/or pharmacological interventions are effective at improving de-pressive symptoms and quality of life in cancer patients. Furthermore, antidepressant treatments are effective for various physical symptoms related to cancer, such as fatigue, anorexia, pain, hot flashes, and itching. This article reviews and discusses current knowledge about depression in cancer patients.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• 제15권24호
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• pp.10927-10932
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• 2015

Background: Older age is associated with an increase in the incidence of cancer cases. Diagnosis and treatment of cancer in older adults can be stressful because of health decline related to age, comorbidities and inadequate treatment for pain and other symptoms of the disease. This survey is one of the unique studies in Jordan and in the Arab world that aimed at exploring the predictors of older adult individuals awareness towards cancer. Materials and Methods: A stratified random sampling technique was followed to reach a representative sample of 753 participants. The questionnaire of the study consisted of parts regarding demographic variables, awareness about screening tests, and signs and symptoms of cancer. In addition, specific questions related to factors linked to cancer were included. Cross-sectional design was adopted with face-to-face interviews at the interviewees' households. Results: The mean age of the participants was about 63 years; around 44% of them are above the age of 65 years. 'Being convinced that having no health problem makes the individual feel safe and not at risk of getting cancer' was the major reason for not doing a routine health check-up. Conclusions: The low levels of awareness about cancer, as well as the low use of the screening methods were crucial outcomes of this study. Thus, raising the awareness among health care providers and policy makers in the country about older adults' perception of cancer is a high priority.