• Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing
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• v.30 no.2
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• pp.331-341
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• 2000

Since cancer is not easily curable, patients who suffer from cancer may have physical, psychological and spiritual problems for the rest of their lives. Especially when cancer patients do not have much to live for and are placing a burden on their family they will experience more suffering emotionally as much as physically. This study was conducted to provide a basis of data for nursing intervention strategies to minimize a cancer patient`s suffering and to understand the relationship between suffering, burden and the meaning of life in cancer patients. The samples were composed of 160 cancer patients who were inpatients or outpatients of two university hospitals and two general hospitals in Seoul. Data collection were carried out from January, 25, 1999 to February, 26, 1999. The data were analyzed using a SAS program for descriptive statistics, pearson correlations, ANOVA, and Duncan tests. The results were as follows; 1. The scores on the two suffering scale ranged from 132 to 40 with a mean of 87.3(SD 17.5). The mean scores on the burden scale is 28.9(SD 6.9) and the score of the meaning of life ranged from 35 to 51 with a mean of 95.6(SD 18.4). 2. There were significant correlations between the amount of suffering and the magnitude of burden (r=.74, p=.00), the suffering and the meaning of life (r=-.59, p=.00) and the burden and meaning of life (r=-.61, p=.00). 3. In the degree of the suffering, the burden and the meaning of life were two very strong factors, the level of the suffering in cancer patients by age (F=2.64, p=.03) and education level (F=4.16, p=.00). The level of the burden in cancer patients differed by education level (F=4.70, p=.00) and type of cancer (F=2.97, p= .03). Also the level of the meaning of life in cancer patients was different by education level (F=3.55, p=.02). In conclusion, the burden and the meaning of life was identified as important variable that is contributed to reduce the suffering of cancer patients.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.16 no.3
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• pp.1235-1239
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• 2015

Background: Fragile histidine triad (FHIT) gene is a tumor suppressor gene which involved in breast cancer pathogenesis. Epigenetics alterations in FHIT contributes to tumorigenesis of breast cancer. Objective: Our objective was to study FHIT promoter region hypermethylation in Egyptian breast cancer patients and its association with clinicopathological features. Materials and Methods: Methylation-specific polymerase chain reaction was performed to study the hypermethylation of FHIT promoter region in 20 benign breast tissues and 30 breast cancer tissues. Results: The frequency of hypermethylation of FHIT promoter region was significantly increased in breast cancer patients compared to bengin breast disease patients. The Odd's ratio (95%CI) of development of breast cancer in individuals with FHIT promoter hypermethylation (MM) was 11.0 (1.22-250.8). There were also significant associations between FHIT promoter hypermethylation and estrogen, progesterone receptors negativity, tumor stage and nodal involvment in breast cancer pateints. Conclusions: Our results support an association between FHIT promotor hypermethylation and development of breast cancer in Egyptian breast cancer patients. FHIT promoter hypermethylation is associated with some poor prognostic features of breast cancer.

• Journal of radiological science and technology
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• v.13 no.2
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• pp.37-42
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• 1990

The paper is based on the record of researching the patients with cancer in the Chun-nam National University Hospital from September 1985 to December 1988. The results are the as follows ; 1. Among the total O.P.D. 921, 028, the patients of Therapeutic Radiology (Opening the Therapeutic Radiology in September) are classified into 27,159(2.95%), (186 in 1985, 2,388 in 1986, 10,511 in 1987, and 14,074 in 1988) 2. Among the 4,925 cancer patients, cervix and uterus cancer patients are 1,138(23.10%), stomach cancer patients are 592(12.02%), brain and thyroid cancer patients are 565(11.47%), liver cancer patients are 400 (8.12%), lung cancer patients are 355 (7.20%) and sexual ratio appeared 1 : 1.13. Therefore, female patients are a slightly more than the male patients. 3. The age distribution of cancer was that of $45{\sim}54$ ages are 1,244(25.26%), $55{\sim}64$ ages are 1,119(22.72%) and $35{\sim}44$ ages are 773(15.70%) and the half of all the cancer patients are $45{\sim}64$ ages. 4. Among the 2,519 cancer patients, 742(29.46%) are in the uterus system, 620(24.62%) are in the brain and thyroid part, 402 (15.96%) are in the lungs. Therefore, these three kinds of cancer consist of 70%. 5. The occupational distribution of 3,067 cancer patients ($87{\sim}88\;year$) house wives are 636 (20.73%), orderly farmers are 622 (20.28%) public service personnells are 193 (6.29%), salarymen are 162(5.28%) and businessmen are 159(5.18%).

• The Korean Journal of Health Service Management
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• v.13 no.4
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• pp.67-82
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• 2019

Objectives: This study aimed to evaluate digital interventions on psychological well-being in patients with cancer through an integrated review. Methods: Fifteen studies were selected using PubMed, CINAHL, Scopus, DBpia, and RISS. The Scottish Intercollegiate Guidelines Network was used by two reviewers to evaluate independently the quality of the selected articles. Results: Digital interventions for improving psychological well-being in cancer patients were most often based on cognitive behavioral therapy alone or a combination of interventions with professionals and other patients. In addition, a number of interventions were established on internet-based mindfulness therapy. Conclusions: Providing cognitive behavioral intervention alone did not significantly improve the level of depression or anxiety of patients with cancer. Meanwhile, interventions, including cognitive behavior therapy and interactions with professionals and other patients, were found to reduce significantly the level of depression or anxiety in the experimental group.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.14 no.10
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• pp.5949-5952
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• 2013

Objectives: To compare the clinicalpathological features and prognosis between premenopausal breast cancer patients aged of <35 and ${\geq}35$ years old. Methods: The clinical data and survival status of 1498 cases premenopausal operable breast cancer treated in our hospital from 2002.1 to 2004. 12 were collected, 118 cases were aged <35. They were divided into 4 groups: Luminal A, Luminal B, HER2-positive, Triple-negative. The disease free survival (DFS) and overall survival (OS) were identified. Results: The 5-year DFS and OS rates were significantly lower in age<35 than in $age{\geq}35$ patients. In the Luminal B, HER2-positive, Triple-negative group, the 5-year recurrence risk was higher in age<35 than in $age{\geq}35$ patients, and age<35 patients' 5-year death risk was higher only in Luminal B, Triple-negative group. Regardless of whether lymph node involved, age<35 patients had a bad prognosis in both DFS and OS. Conclusions: Compared with premenopausal age ${\geq}35$ breast cancer, age<35 patients had a worse outcome.

• Asian Oncology Nursing
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• v.8 no.1
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• pp.24-31
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• 2008

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to evaluate resilience of children with cancer and their mothers. This study aims to identify the main factors behind the resilience of these patients and their mothers. Method: To measure the resilience of cancer patients, Kim's (2002) resilience scale was utilized. The Korean Family Functioning Scale revised by Chae (2004) was used to calculate the resilience of mothers. Respondents for this study consist of 60 pediatric cancer patients and their mothers. Data was collected a Medical Center in Seoul, Korea. Descriptive statistics, t-test, ANOVA, and the Pearson's correlation coefficients were used for data analysis. Results: The resilience mean of pediatric cancer patients is 98.32 ($3.09{\pm}0.03$) and of mothers is 64.95 ($3.08{\pm}0.25$). There appears to be a high resilience in pediatric cancer patients who hold religious beliefs. Similarly, there is a high resilience for mothers who are employed. And there is a significant positive correlation between the resilience of pediatric cancer patients and their mothers. Conclusions: As the study indicates that there is a definite relationship between the resilience of pediatric cancer patients and their mothers, it is vital to improve the condition of both the patient and his mother to augment the healing process.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.14 no.12
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• pp.7669-7674
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• 2013

Background: The hypothesis that patients who primarily progress on two consecutive chemotherapy regimens without evidence of clinical benefit may opt for supportive care was investigated. The purpose was to determine the quality of life in recurrent ovarian cancer patients choosing to receive salvage chemotherapy in addition to supportive care or palliative care alone. A secondary objective was to evaluate factors that affect quality of life in ovarian cancer patients. Materials and Methods: A descriptive study was conducted in patients who had histological confirmed epithelial ovarian cancer and failed to respond to at least one regimen of chemotherapy, coming for treatment at the King Chulalongkorn Memorial Hospital in Bangkok, Thailand over a six-month period from August 2012-March 2013. Each patient was asked to complete the FACT-G and a general personal questionnaire. The median quality of life score was analyzed. The Mann Whitney U Test was used to compare the difference between salvage chemotherapy and palliative care groups, and the Kruskal Wallis was used to evaluate other variables. Results: Thirty-eight ovarian cancer patients were identified who failed to respond to chemotherapy. Of the 38, 30 chose salvage chemotherapy and eight palliative care for further treatment. By histology the carcimnomas were predominantly endometrioid subtype and poorly differentiated. The majority of patients in this study had FIGO stage III, and ECOG status 0-1. The median quality of life score was 76.3 (35.8-94.0), with no significant differences between the groups. Factors associated with the quality of life were the ECOG score and number of chemotherapeutic courses. Conclusions: In the setting of refractory or recurrent epithelial ovarian cancer, patients who receive salvage chemotherapy have comparable quality of life scores with patients treated with palliative care alone, providing a contrast with previous studies.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.15 no.7
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• pp.2945-2950
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• 2014

Background: This study compared risk factors for depression and suicidal ideas among cancer patients for comparison with the general population, and identified influencing factors. Materials and Methods: We analyzed data from 2,472 cancer patients in the National Cancer Center and nine Regional Cancer Centers and frequency-matched data for age and sex from 2,349 members of the general population who completed the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey in 2008. Logistic regression analysis was used to identify factors affecting depression and suicidal ideas. Results: Cancer patients were not likely to have more depression (OR=0.96, 95%CI=0.79-1.18) and were less likely to have suicidal ideas (OR=0.64, 95%CI=0.53-0.79) compared to the general population. Female sex, more stress, and lower quality of life were influencing factors. The additional risk factors for suicidal ideas among cancer patients included income (OR=0.62, 95%CI=0.43-0.91), smoking (OR=1.63, 95% CI=1.06-2.50), recurrence (OR=1.50, 95%CI=1.15-1.95), and chemotherapy (OR=1.66, 95%CI=1.26-2.19). Conclusions: No differences appeared in depression rates between cancer patients and the general population, and cancer patients were less likely to have suicidal ideas. However, cancer patients were likely to have more risk factors than the general population, and those classified as being at high risk of suicide should receive distress management and social economic support, from early in the treatment process.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.14 no.3
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• pp.1981-1984
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• 2013

Objective: The optimal duration of adjuvant trastuzumab treatment in patients with HER2-positive breast cancer is not known. The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of 6 months of adjuvant trastuzumab treatment in patients with stage II or III HER2-positive breast cancer. Methods: The records of patients with HER2-positive stage II or III breast cancer who were admitted to the Breast Center of Taipei Medical University Hospital and Yuan's General Hospital between 2000 and 2008 were reviewed. All patients received adjuvant trastuzumab at an initial dose of 4 mg/kg followed by a maintenance dose of 2 mg/kg/week for 22 weeks in combination with chemotherapy. Results: A total of 51 patients were included with a mean age of 46.9 years. Approximately 55% of the patients had stage III disease. The mean follow-up time from initiation of treatment was 45.2 months (range, 0.9 to 85 months). During follow-up, 46 patients (90.2%) did not experience tumor recurrence. The mean estimated disease free survival was 80.2 months. The estimated 1-, 2-, 5-, and 7-year survival rates were 97.9%, 93.1%, 93.1%, and 93.1%, respectively. The most common adverse effects were gastrointestinal symptoms (21.6%), chills (17.6%), dizziness (9.8%), and bone pain (7.8%). No cardiac or hematologic adverse events occurred. Conclusion: Adjuvant therapy with trastuzumab for 6 months resulted in a clinical benefit in patients with HER2-positive breast cancer.

• Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing
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• v.33 no.3
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• pp.321-330
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• 2003

Purpose: This was to describe the emotions that patients face when diagnosed with cancer to know the problems and coping styles that cancer patients experience during the treatment. Method: The qualitative method was used for this study. The participants were 90 cancer patients at five general hospital in Pusan, Korea. Data were collected by interviews with a semi-structured questionnaire from November 2000 to June 2001, and were analyzed using the modified constant comparative method. Result: The most common emotions on the diagnosis of cancer were shock(36.7%), followed by despair(25.6%), acceptance(24.4%), denial(l8.9%), complaint(16.7%), and fear(8.9%). The problems identified were the unpleasantness and physical discomfort related with the treatment(50.0%), the feelings of burden(41.1%), finance/occupation(38.8%), and fear of the future(26.6%). Coping styles to problems that the subjects have faced on the course of the treatment were compliance(36.6%), health care(31.l %), positive thinking(22.2%), despair/avoidance( 15.5%), seeking social support( 6.6%), information seeking(3.3%) and self-control(2.2%). Conclusion: It is very important to develop nursing interventions which can mitigate shock that patients experience, can help cancer patients to have hope for the future and to positively cope with cancer.