• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
• /
• v.17 no.4
• /
• pp.2315-2320
• /
• 2016

Background: This study investigated the influence of religious beliefs on the health of cancer patients and identified the factors contributing to the influence. Materials and Methods: A questionnaire survey was conducted using a convenient sampling method. A structured questionnaire was used to the samplings, and the data of 200 cancer patients were collected. Results: The effects of religion on the health of cancer patients achieved an average score of 3.58. The top five effects are presented as follows: (a) Religion provides me with mental support and strength, (b) religion enables me to gain confidence in health recovery, (c) religion motivates me to cope with disease-related stress positively and optimistically, (d) religion helps me reduce anxiety, and (e) religion gives me courage to face uncertainties regarding disease progression. Moreover, among the demographic variables, gender, type of religion, and experience of religious miracles contributed to the significantly different effects of religion on patients. Specifically, the effect of religion on the health of patients who were female and Christian and had miracle experiences was significantly (p< .01) higher than that on other patients. Conclusions: These results are helpful in understanding the influence of religious beliefs on the health of cancer patients and identified the factors contributing to the influence. The result can serve as a reference for nursing education and clinical nursing practice.

• Korean Journal of Clinical Pharmacy
• /
• v.23 no.3
• /
• pp.213-222
• /
• 2013

Purpose: The aim of this study was to investigate the current state of antidepressant prescriptions in breast cancer patients and factors affecting the prescription of antidepressants. Methods: This study targeted female breast cancer patients who were prescribed antidepressants by a psychiatrist at least once between August 2010 and July 2011 at the Asan Medical Center in Seoul. The prescription history of each study subject was investigated to analyze the current state of antidepressant prescriptions in breast cancer patients. Results: The analysis of the prescription histories of 136 subjects in the antidepressant group determined that escitalopram, mirtazapine, and trazodone were the three most commonly prescribed medications with an average of 1.54 antidepressants prescribed per patient. A logistic regression analysis showed a statistically significant increase in antidepressant prescriptions in patients who were divorced or widowed, had sleep disturbances, or had undergone oncologic surgery for the breast cancer (p<0.050). In contrast, the prescription rate was lower for patients with tumour sizes greater than 50 mm (p<0.050). Conclusion: The sociodemographic factor of marital status, clinical factors of sleep disorders and tumour size, and a treatment-specific factor of the use of surgical therapy were identified as affecting the prescription of antidepressants in female breast cancer patients.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
• /
• v.14 no.10
• /
• pp.5693-5697
• /
• 2013

Background: Changes in the attitudes and behavior of relatives of breast cancer patients concerning cancer prevention and screening after diagnosis in a loved one were evaluated. Materials and Methods: Forty-three questions were used to collect data from the relatives of the breast cancer patients who had been living with their relatives for at least one year. Results: The study group was composed of 171 female relatives (median age: 43, range: 17-82 yr). After the patients were diagnosed with breast cancer, changes in the attitudes and behavior of their relatives toward the prevention and screening of cancer were evident in 78 (45.6%) of the study participants (e.g. eating habits, quit or reduced smoking, exercise habits). In addition, it was noted that some characteristics of the relatives had different effects on different attitudes and behavior. Conclusions: Awareness on breast cancer among the relatives of breast cancer patients is useful for the management of health and social problems that can be seen in these individuals. At the same time, this information could help countries determine whether their actual level of healthcare for early cancer diagnosis, prevention, and screening are adequate.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
• /
• v.72 no.3
• /
• pp.318-322
• /
• 2012

Sarcoidosis is an inflammatory disease involving multiple-organs with an unknown cause. The new onset of sarcoidosis associated with therapeutic agents has been observed in 3 clinical settings; tumor necrosis factor antagonists in autoimmune rheumatologic diseases, interferon alpha with or without ribavirin in patients with chronic hepatitis C or melanoma, and antineoplastic agent-associated sarcoidosis in patients with hematologic malignancies. Here, we report a female patient who developed sarcoidosis after capecitabine treatment as an adjuvant chemotherapy for sigmoid colon cancer. To our knowledge, this is the first report of a capecitabine-induced sarcoidosis.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
• /
• v.14 no.5
• /
• pp.2823-2828
• /
• 2013

Background: This study was performed to evaluate relationships between different demographic variables and hopelessness and depression in end of life Turkish cancer patients. This study was a descriptive survey with repeated measures conducted a university hospital in the city of Erzurum, in the eastern part of Turkey. The study enrolled 216 patients undergoing palliative treatment at the hospital. Materials and Methods: Data were collected using questionnaires (demographic questionnaire, Beck Hopelessness Scale (BHS), Beck Depression Scale (BDS) and analyzed for demographic and disease-related variable effects on hopelessness and depression. Results: Th hopelessness score was significantly high in female, illiterate, married, and living in rural areas cancer patients. Both hopelessness and depression scores were significantly higher with longer disease duration, receiving radiotherapy treatment, and having metastatic disease. Conclusions: These findings demonstrate the coexistence of the physical, psychological, and cognitive problems faced by patients with cancer. Nurses can conduct brief screening assessments to identify patients with probable distress and and psychosocial support, as well as referrals to support services.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
• /
• v.17 no.6
• /
• pp.2989-2993
• /
• 2016

The commonest cancer in Egyptian females occurs in the breast cfDNA is a non-invasive marker for tumor detetion and prognostic assessment in many types of cancer including breast cancer. This study aimed to assess the role of cfDNA and its fragmentation pattern in breast cancer prognosis and treatment response. Forty female patients with malignant breast tumors and a comparable group of healthy blood donors were enrolled prospectively. cfDNA levels and fragmentation patterns were investigated after cfDNA extraction, gel electrophoresis and gel analysis. The percentage of breast cancer patients positive for cfDNA (92.5%) was significantly higher than that of controls (55%). Also, mean concentration of cfDNA was significantly higher than in the control group (P<0.05). Most Her-2 positive patients had long cfDNA fragments, this being significant as compared to Her-2 negative patients (P<0.05). Metastasis was also positively linked to significantly higher cfDNA (P<0.05) and the mean cfDNA integrity index was significantly higher in non-responders compared to treatment responders (P<0.05). In conclusion, both qualitative and quantitative aspects of cfDNA and its different fragments in breast cancer patients could be related to prognosis, metastasis and treatment response. Long cfDNA fragments could be particularly useful for prediction purposes.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
• /
• v.13 no.5
• /
• pp.2039-2043
• /
• 2012

Objectives: Depression is common in cancer patients. However, only limited evidence is available for Asian populations. The authors therefore examine the prevalence of depression in Thai patients with cancer. In addition, associated factors were determined. Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted in cancer patients admitted to a university hospital during December 2006 - December 2007. The Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9) was used to assess all cancer patients. Suicidal risk was assessed by using the Mini-International Neuropsychiatric Interview (MINI) in the module of suicidal risk assessment. Results: Of 108 cancer patients, 29.6 % were diagnosed with a depressive disorder (mild, 14.8 %; moderate, 5.6 %; severe, 9.3 %). However, only 25.0 % of these were recognized as being depressed by the primary physician. According to the MINI., 28.1 % of these depressed cancer patients had a moderate to severe level of suicidal risk. In addition, the findings suggest that increased risk of depression is significantly associated with increased pain score, lower number of cancer treatments (< 2 methods), increased educational duration (>13 years), increased age (> 50 years old) and being female. Conclusions: The prevalence of depression is high in Thai cancer patients. However, depressive disorder in those patients is frequently undiagnosed. It is associated with several factors including pain, a number of cancer treatments, education duration, age and sex. To improve quality of life, increase compliance with treatments and prevent of suicide, screening for depressive disorders in this patient group is strongly recommended.

• Korean Journal of Clinical Pharmacy
• /
• v.12 no.2
• /
• pp.76-84
• /
• 2002

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the patient education provided by the pharmacist for cancer patients receiving chemotherapy in the hospital. One time patient medication teaching including verbal instruction and written materials were provided by a pharmacist for cancer patients receiving chemotherapy on the first or second day of hospitalization. After providing medication teaching by a pharmacist a written survey was performed in order to measure the patient's satisfaction with the medication teaching and to evaluate the effectiveness of the patient medication teaching. This one-time patient medication teaching by a pharmacist was provided for 44 solid and hematological cancer patients (23 male, 21 female). The results of 27 written surveys completed by the cancer patients revealed that almost all cancer patients $(96.3\%)$ felt that medication teaching is a must in order to understand and accept the chemotherapy by cancer patients. In addition, almost all patients $(92.6\%)$ stated that they were extremely satisfied with the medication teaching provided by the pharmacist. The levels of understandings on the chemotherapy.

• Korean Journal of Adult Nursing
• /
• v.14 no.3
• /
• pp.411-417
• /
• 2002

Purpose: This study was to investigate symptom occurrence related to the disease characteristics of patients with cancer. Method: A total of 301 patients with cancer participated in this study. The participants were recruited from University Hospitals located in Seoul, Wonju, Kwangju, Daegu, and Pusan. Data collection was performed by using a questionnaire on symptom occurrence. The obtained data was analyzed using SPSS computer program that included descriptive statistics, Pearson correlation, one-way ANOVA, and t-test. Result: The mean score of fatigue was the highest (3.24), followed by loss of appetite, lack of concentration, change in appearance, pain, insomnia, change in bowel pattern, nausea/vomiting, coughing, and dyspnea. Most symptoms were significantly correlated with each other. The level of symptom occurrence in patients with lung cancer or cervix cancer was significantly higher than the level in patients with stomach cancer. Patients receiving radiation therapy or a combined therapy of radiation therapy and chemotherapy experienced significantly higher level of symptom occurrence than those receiving chemotherapy only. Also, female patients experienced higher level of symptom occurrence than male patients did. Conclusion: The sites of cancer, types of treatment, and gender influence the level of symptom occurrence of patients with cancer. Thus, these variables should be considered when assessing and planing for symptom occurrence of patients with cancer.

• Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing
• /
• v.38 no.2
• /
• pp.321-331
• /
• 2008

Purpose: To examine the relationship between body fat percentage (BFP) and N-K cell activity (NKCA) in Korean breast and rectal cancer patients just after diagnosis. Methods: With 35 subjects enrolled between November 2002 and May 2003, Bioelectrical Impedance Analysis was used to estimate BFP. FACS Analysis was used to measure N-K cell activity. The relationships between BFP and NKCA were identified by using curve estimation, simple regression, and multiple regression, Results: The mean BFPs of the subjects and all the sub-groups were higher than acceptable BFPs. Both the mean NKCAs of male and female subjects were lower than that of healthy women. NKCA was explained by BFP with a 14.9% variance in the total subjects (p<.05). There were significant negative relationships between BFP and NKCA after controlling age, type of cancer, and stage of cancer while no significant relationship was found after controlling for gender. The relationships between BFP and NKCA in the sub-groups of female, breast cancer, and stage I, and II were significant. The relationships between male, rectal cancer, and the stage III, and VI sub-groups were not identified, but they revealed a mild to moderate steep in curve estimation. Conclusion: Weight reduction could prevent the risk and advancement of breast and rectal cancer in Koreans.