• Korean Journal of Adult Nursing
• /
• v.21 no.5
• /
• pp.529-537
• /
• 2009

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to investigate the correlation of sexual satisfaction and daily stress in breast cancer patients. Methods: Data was collected through self-administered questionnaires and analyzed by descriptive statistics, t-test, ANOVA and Pearson's correlation. Data survey was conducted with 500 conveniently selected breast cancer patients who visited the out patient department in 5 university hospitals in Seoul, Gyung-gi and Gang-won province. Results: The sexual satisfaction of breast cancer patients score was 31.34 and there were significant sexual satisfaction differences by age, education level, menopause and sexual activity frequency. Sexual satisfaction was negatively related with daily stress (r = -.177) especially personal stress (r = -.155), economic stress (r = -.138), stress of self (r = -.181), family stress (r = -.154) and stress about leisure (r = -.139). Conclusion: These findings are expected to make a contribution to creation of ideal sexual rehabilitation nursing interventions for breast cancer patients care nurse. Furthermore continuous and customized education and counseling programs can contribute to promote healthy sexual life for breast cancer patients.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
• /
• v.13 no.9
• /
• pp.4769-4772
• /
• 2012

Aims: The purpose of the present study was to investigate healthy lifestyle changes during the period before and after breast cancer diagnosis in Taiwan. Materials and Method: Lifestyle changes during the period before and after cancer diagnosis were assessed by convenience sampling with a structured questionnaire for breast cancer survivors. Results: A total of 235 breast cancer survivors completed the healthy lifestyle scale. The mean values before and after breast cancer diagnosis of the participants were 3.27 and 3.73. The final five dimensions for the period before breast cancer diagnosis were: had not experienced stress; had exercised; had maintained sleep quality; had maintained body weight; and had maintained relationships. The final five dimensions for the period after breast cancer diagnosis were: sleep quality; had not experienced stress; relationship; had exercised; and had maintained body weight. A paired-t test was applied to examine the differences before and after cancer diagnosis, revealing that the total average scores of the participants on the healthy lifestyle scale clearly differed statistically (t= -17.20, p<0.01); and the nine dimensions before and after testing also demonstrate a marked statistical difference (p<0.01). Conclusions: These findings are helpful in understanding the healthy lifestyle changes during the period before and after cancer diagnosis among breast cancer survivors. It is expected that these results can offer references of self-care for this group of patients.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
• /
• v.17 no.2
• /
• pp.759-765
• /
• 2016

Background: Breast cancer is the most frequent cancer of women in Pakistan with the majority presenting with stage III or IV lesionsat initial diagnosis. Patient and health system related factors are well known determinants of delay in presentation and diagnosis. Additionally, breast cancer being a heterogeneous disease, the various molecular subtypes featuring different aggressiveness also need to be considered. The present study evaluated the association of stage at initial diagnosis of breast cancer with these two factors in local women at a tertiary level health care facility in Lahore, Pakistan. Materials and Methods: Patient and tumor features were recorded separately during diagnostic workup in Breast Clinics at INMOL and at Services Hospital, Lahore. Data were entered in MS Excel and analyzed by descriptive statistics and Chi-Square test. Results: Among the 261 patients, 64% were staged as late breast cancer (LBC), the mean age was 46.8 with standard deviation of 13 years. Some 92% had invasive ductal carcinoma (IDC), 61% had luminal types (LT) of non-aggressive tumor while 39% had the non-luminal types (NLT) of of HER2-enriched or basal aggressive tumors. While 70% of patients presented within one year of symptomatic disease (early report group "ERG"), 30% reported after a mean delay of 4 years with a standard deviation of 3.75 years. The stage distribution among ERG patients was not statistically different from those reporting late (P=0.123). Statistically larger proportion of patients with NLT presented as LBC as compared to the LT (P =0.034). Among the ERG, statistically different stage distribution of disease was observed for the NLT versus LT (P=0.047). Among those presenting late, this difference was insignificant (P=0.416). Conclusions: Breast cancer is a distinct disease in Pakistan with a high frequency of aggressive molecular types affecting younger women, with the majority presenting as LBC. Association of NLT with higher stage at diagnosis is statistically significant whereas time delay in diagnosis is not. Further research is required to define the risk profile and features in local patients. The burden of LBC can be reduced by promoting breast health awareness and by establishing easily accessible dedicated breast care set ups in the hospitals.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
• /
• v.15 no.1
• /
• pp.39-44
• /
• 2014

Background: This study aimed to provide an overview of lifestyle changes after breast cancer diagnosis and to examine the relationship between dietary and physical activity changes with weight changes in breast cancer patients. Women with breast carcinomas (n=368) were recruited from eight hospitals and four breast cancer support groups in peninsular Malaysia. Dietary and physical activity changes were measured from a year preceding breast cancer diagnosis to study entry. Mean duration since diagnosis was $4.86{\pm}3.46$ years. Dietary changes showed that majority of the respondents had decreased their intake of high fat foods (18.8-65.5%), added fat foods (28.3-48.9%), low fat foods (46.8-80.7%), red meat (39.7%), pork and poultry (20.1-39.7%) and high sugar foods (42.1-60.9%) but increased their intake of fish (42.7%), fruits and vegetables (62.8%) and whole grains (28.5%). Intake of other food groups remained unchanged. Only a small percentage of the women (22.6%) had increased their physical activity since diagnosis where most of them (16.0%) had increased recreational activities. Age at diagnosis (${\beta}$= -0.20, p= 0.001), and change in whole grain (${\beta}$= -0.15, p= 0.003) and fish intakes (${\beta}$= 0.13, p= 0.013) were associated with weight changes after breast cancer diagnosis. In summary, the majority of the women with breast cancer had changed their diets to a healthier one. However, many did not increase their physical activity levels which could improve their health and lower risk of breast cancer recurrence.

• Korean Journal of Hospice Care
• /
• v.5 no.2
• /
• pp.22-32
• /
• 2005

Purpose : The purpose of this study were to identify the relationship of depression and pain in patients with breast cancer. Method : The data was collected from 117 breast cancer patients who were admitted at K University hospital in Busan, from January 4, to January 31, 2003 using questionnaire method. Their depression was measured using depression scale developed by Zung(1965) and translated by Song(1977) and pain was measured using the Revised Melzack Pain Scale developed by Melzack(1975). The data were analysed by the SPSS WIN 11.0 PC program using frequency and percentage, t-test, ANOVA, Pearson Correlation Coefficient. Result : The results of this study were as follows: The mean and standard deviation of the total depression score were 48±7.89 in 20(lowest)-to-80(highest) scoring system. The analysis of the depression according to general characteristics of the breast cancer patients showed correlation at Age(F=5.81, p=.000), Education level (F=7.48, p=.000), Insurance for cancer(t=6.94, p=.010), Period after Dx(F=6.85, p=.001), Duration of pain experience(F=9.74, p=.000), Surgical method(F=3.87, p=.005), Stage(F=10.31, p=.000), and Lesion site(F=20.63, p=.000). The mean and standard deviation of the total pain score were .48± .40 in 0(lowest)-to-4(highest) scoring system. The analysis of the pain according to general characteristics of the breast cancer patients showed differentiation at Education level(F=3.75, p=.007), Income per mouth(F=3.77, p=.010), Period after Dx(F=3.77, p=.002), Duration of pain experience(F=5.48, p=.000), Stage(F=10.39, p=.000), and Lesion site(F=8.10, p=.000). There was a significant positive correlation between depression and pain(r=.37, p=.000) and between depression and discomfort(r=.37, p=.000). Conclusion : Patients with breast cancer experiencing depression and pain. Increase in depression was associated with increase in pain and discomfort. Nurses must provide patients with nursing care about the occurrence of depression and interventions to deal with pain control and prevent discomfort.

• The Journal of Korean Obstetrics and Gynecology
• /
• v.30 no.1
• /
• pp.85-94
• /
• 2017

Objectives: To explore experiences of treatment-related side effects and supportive care among Korean breast cancer survivors (BCS). Methods: Focus group interview was conducted with six Korean women with breast cancer. Participants were recruited through snow-balling. Interview was audio-recorded and transcribed verbatim. NVivo-11 was used to code the data into themes. Results: Two major themes were identified: (1) experiences of Western medicine, including treatment, side effects, needs and costs; (2) experiences of supportive care with Korean medicine, including the same as above. All participants experienced Western medicine in treatment phase and reported impairment of physical, emotional, and social functioning during and after Western medicine treatment. Only three participants used Korean medicine after treatments end. The negative responses from Western medicine doctors were the most important factor keeping participants from accessing Korean medicine when treatment-related side effects occurred. For this reason, some participants used Korean medicine without disclosure. Participants usually acquired information about Korean medicine from online community or other BCS, which was another important factor because it raised concerns about side effects and credibility of Korean medicine. High cost was also reported as barrier in using Korean medicine. During the cancer treatment, participants tended to endure their treatment-related side effects. Conclusions: Korean BCS may be at high risk of physical or emotional distress during treatment period. Findings suggest that there is a high need for supportive care to relieve treatment-related side effects and improve patients' quality-of-life. Furthermore, developing a systematic guidance or credible information sources should be warranted to help patients find the best supportive care options including Korean medicine.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
• /
• v.14 no.12
• /
• pp.7301-7307
• /
• 2013

Background: Conspicuous differences in participation rates for breast self-examination (BSE), clinical breast examination (CBE), and referral for further investigations have been observed indicating involvement of a number of different factors. This study analysed determinants for participation in different levels of the breast cancer screening process in Indian females. Materials and Methods: An intervention group of 52,011 women was interviewed in a breast cancer screening trial in Trivandrum district, India. In order to assess demographic, socio-economic, reproductive, and cancer-related determinants of participation in BSE, CBE, and referral, uni- and multi-variate logistic regression was employed. Results: Of the interviewed women, 23.2% reported practicing BSE, 96.8% had attended CBE, and 49.1% of 2,880 screen-positives attended referral. Results showed an influence of various determinants on participation; women who were currently not married or who had no family history of cancer were significantly less likely to attend the screening process at any level. Conclusions: Increasing awareness about breast cancer, early detection methods, and the advantages of early diagnoses among women, and their families, as well as health care workers offering social support, could help to increase participation over the entire screening process in India.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
• /
• v.16 no.17
• /
• pp.7929-7933
• /
• 2015

Background: The incidence of breast cancer in India is on the rise and is rapidly becoming the number one cancer in females, pushing the cervical cancer to the second position. Most of the predisposition to hereditary breast and ovarian cancer has been attributed to inherited defects in two tumor suppressor genes BRCA1 and BRCA2. Alterations in these genes have been reported in different populations, some of which are population-specific mutations showing founder effects. Two specific mutations in the BRCA1 (185delAG) and BRCA2 (6174delT) genes have been reported to be of high prevalence in different populations. The aim of this study was to estimate the carrier frequency of 185delAG and 6174delT mutations in eastern Indian breast cancer patients. Materials and Methods: We selected 231 histologically confirmed breast cancer patients from our tertiary cancer care center in eastern India. Family history was obtained by interview or a self-reported questionnaire. The presence of the mutation was investigated by allele specific duplex/multiplex-PCR on genomic DNA extracted from peripheral blood. Results: A total of 231 patients (age range: 26-77 years), 130 with a family history and 101 without were screened. The two founder mutations 185delAG in BRCA1 and 6174delT in BRCA2 were not found in any of the subjects. This was confirmed by molecular analysis. Conclusions: Our findings suggest that these BRCA mutations may not have a strong recurrent effect on breast cancer among the eastern Indian population. The contribution of these founder mutations to breast cancer incidence is probably low and could be limited to specific subgroups. This may be particularly useful in establishing further pre-screening strategies.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
• /
• v.15 no.22
• /
• pp.9967-9972
• /
• 2014

In order to prove whether downregulation of COX-2 (Cyclooxygenase-2) could modulate the epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) of breast cancer, celecoxib and siRNA were respectively used to inhibit COX-2 function and expression in MDA-MB-231 cells. The EMT reversal effect in the RNAi treated group was better than that of the celecoxib group while there were no obvious differences in the medium $PGE_2$ levels between the two groups. The results show that COX-2 pathways may contribute considerably to EMT of breast cancer cells, partially dependent on the PGE2 cascade. Akt2, ZEB2 and Snail were measured to clarify the underlying mechanisms of COX-2 on EMT; COX-2 may modulate EMT of breast cancer by regulating these factors. This finding may be helpful to elucidate the mechanisms of selective COX-2 inhibitor action in EMT modulation in breast cancer.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
• /
• v.17 no.3
• /
• pp.1385-1391
• /
• 2016

Background: To investigate the prevalence of and factors associated with performance of annual mammography by women above 40 years of age. Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional retrospective study was conducted at an oncology reference service in Southern Brazil from October 2013 to October 2014 with 525 women aged 40 years or older. Results: The prevalence of annual mammography was 54.1%; annual mammographic screening was performed for women without private medical insurance, who were under hormone replacement therapy and who had used contraception in the past. An association was found between non-performance of breast clinical and self-examination and non-performance of mammographic screening. Conclusions: Use of mammography for breast cancer screening in the public health care setting proved to be accessible; nevertheless, the proportion of screened women was low, and they exhibited poor adherence to the basic measures of care recommended for breast assessment. Thus, control of breast cancer requires implementing actions targeting the population most vulnerable to non-adherence to screening in addition to continuously monitoring and assessing that population to reduce the prevalence of this disease.