• Journal of Korean Academy of Fundamentals of Nursing
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• v.14 no.4
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• pp.457-465
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• 2007

Purpose: This study was done to analyze symptom distress and spiritual well-being in patients with cancer according cancer diagnosis, metastasis, treatment stage, number of hospitalizations and treatment modality. Method: The participants, 285 patients being treated in one of ten general hospitals either as in- or out-patients, completed the McCorkle and Young(1978) Symptom Distress Scale translated and adapted by Uhm(1986) and the Spiritual Well-Being Scale by Paloutzian and Ellison(1982) translated by Choi(1990). Data collection was done from June 19 to September 30, 2006. Results: For symptom distress, there were significant differences for cancer diagnosis(p=.018), metastasis(p=.000), treatment stage(p=.000), number of hospitalizations(p=.000), and treatment modality(p=.002). For spiritual well-being, the only significant difference was for cancer diagnosis(p=.002). Patients with ovarian/uterine cancer had the lowest spiritual well-being. Conclusion: For patients with cancer, symptom distress was significantly different for illness and treatment factors, in particular, stage of illness, while for spiritual well-being, patients with uterine ovarian cancer had the lowest spiritual level. These results indicate a need to develop nursing interventions to decrease symptom distress in patients according to treatment stage and to promote spiritual well-being, particularly in women with ovarian/uterine cancer.

• Journal of Gastric Cancer
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• v.23 no.1
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• pp.182-193
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• 2023

Presently, surgery is the only treatment approach for gastric cancer and improving the prognosis of locally advanced gastric cancer is one of the key factors in promoting gastric cancer survival benefit. The MAGIC study was the first to demonstrate the efficacy of neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC) in European countries. In recent years, several clinical trials have provided evidence for the use of NAC in Asian patients with locally advanced gastric cancer. However, clinical practice guidelines vary between Asian and non-Asian populations. Optimal NAC regimens, proper target populations, and predictors of NAC outcomes in Asian patients are still under investigation. Herein, we summarized the current progress in the administration of NAC in Asian patients with gastric cancer.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.55 no.2
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• pp.108-117
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• 2022

Background: The efficacy of telemedicine among cancer survivors is uncertain. The Smart After-Care Program (SAP), which is an interactive, smartphone-based remote health monitoring system, was developed to help patients manage their health after leaving the hospital. This study was designed to evaluate the efficacy of our remote health care program for lung cancer patients. Methods: We enrolled 50 patients with lung cancer. Self-monitoring devices were supplied to all patients, who were instructed to enter their daily vital signs and subjective symptoms to the Smart After-Care app. The app also provided information about rehabilitation exercises and a healthy diet for lung cancer patients. All patients received health counseling via telephone once a week and visited an outpatient clinic during weeks 6 and 12 to assess satisfaction with the SAP and changes in quality of life and physical performance. Results: Overall satisfaction with the SAP was very high (very good, 61.9%; good, 26.2%). In the multivariate analysis to identify factors affecting satisfaction, the distance between the patient's residence and the hospital was the only significant independent factor (p=0.013). Quality of life improved along all functional scales (p<0.05). Muscle strength significantly improved in the lower limbs (p=0.012). Two-minute walk distance also significantly improved (p=0.028). Conclusion: This study demonstrated that the SAP was acceptable for and supportive of patients with reduced pulmonary function after lung cancer treatment. The SAP was found to be particularly useful for patients living far from the hospital.

• Journal of Haehwa Medicine
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• v.6 no.1
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• pp.567-584
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• 1997

Most of cancer therapy consists of surgery, chemotherapy and radiotherapy developed by modern western medicine. Often Korean patients use both modem western and oriental medicine through their cancer life. This study tried out to answer the the question : "What are the experience of a Korean cancer patients who follow oriental medicine after cancer diagnosis?" To answer to that, a micro-ethnographic research method was used. Total 6 patients were observed from March, 1996 to February, 1997. Data were obtained through interview, participant observation, audio-tape recording, field recoding, field note-taking, and ralated documents Using an analytical tool known as "pencil and scissors", the data were analyzed. First, I learned patietnts' accounts for cancer experience following oriental medicine, and I could found that they expereinced "feeling of uncertainty" through cancer life. Second, major argument was searched. : Feeling of uncertainty of cancer patients was extremely increased after cancer diagnosis. Oriental Medicine made cancer patients not only expect to improve general physical condition, but also gave them significnat emotional support to overcome their feeling of uncertanty. Third, I examined how did this argument form meanings in the context of individual life. Modem western mediacal service system could not satisfy cancer patients' informational and emotional need. But oriental medicine contribute to relieve the degree of their feeling of uncertainty. As a result of these understandings, I suggest that modern wetern medicine need to be concerned to feeling of uncertainty of cancer patietns and infomational service, and oriental medicine counsel with cancer patients much more systemically. Also nurses must improve cancer education with more accurate and practical information based on empirical data.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.15 no.4
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• pp.1655-1658
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• 2014

Objective: To find a more appropriate alternative to D-dimer cutoff value for the diagnosis of deep vein thrombosis (DVT) in cancer patients. Methods: A total of 711 cancer patients with symptoms suspicious of DVT were included in the study. D-dimer levels were assessed using ELISA. All patients were subjected to imaging procedures. Results: Among 711 patients with cancer, 466 (65.5%) were females and 245 (34.5%) were males, with an average age of $57.3{\pm}13.23$ years. The mean age in the DVT group was significantly higher than in the non-DVT group (P<0.05). The D-dimer levels of the DVT group were significantly higher than those of the non-DVT group (P<0.05). The incidence rate of DVT varied significantly according to cancer type (P<0.05). Increasing age and lung cancer were significantly correlated with D-dimer levels (P<0.05), and a one-year increase in age was associated with a 14.28 ng/ml increase in the D-dimer value. The optimal cutoff point for D-dimer was found to be 981 ng/ml, with a sensitivity of 86.4%, specificity of 79.4%, and accuracy of 82.6%. If the D-dimer cutoff point was set to 981ng/ml, the specificity would increase from 61.8% to 85.5% without loss of sensitivity in patients aged 40 years or younger. In patients aged more than 40 years, the new cutoff almost doubled the specificity with slightly reduced sensitivity. Conclusion: In cancer patients, a new cutoff value of 981 ng/ml effectively improved the exclusion of DVT, especially for patients aged more than 40 years.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.28 no.5
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• pp.571-575
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• 2014

This study was aimed to obtain epidemiological information of cancer patients treated with Oriental medicine. 58 breast and gynecological cancer patients treated in Cancer Center of Daeguhanny Oriental Hospital from August 2012 to August 2013 were reviewed. Careful investigations were done by categorizing these patients by their origin, stage, treatment, conventional treatment type, chief complaint, etc. In tumor origin, breast cancer showed the largest proportion in total patients(74.1%) and inpatients(81.8%). 63.8% of the patients' tumors were stage III and IV. 48.3% of patients visited Oriental hospital for combination treatment with conventional medicine. 91.4% of the patients have under 5 years of cancer duration. Their cheif complaints are general weakness, postoperative pain and abdominal discomfort in general. This study presented the characteristics of breast and gynecological cancer patients treated by Oriental medical therapies, and thus would be valuable for futher studies of Oriental medical cancer treatments.

• Journal of Pharmacopuncture
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• v.17 no.1
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• pp.20-26
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• 2014

Objectives: The study aimed to determine changes in laboratory data for cancer patients receiving Korean medicine (KM) care, with a focus on patients' functional status, cancer-coagulation factors and cancer immunity. Methods: We conducted an observational study of various cancer patients in all stages admitted to the East-West Cancer Center (EWCC), Dunsan Korean Hospital of Daejeon University, from Mar. 2011 to Aug. 2011. All patients were under the center's multi-modality Korean-medicine-based inpatient cancer care program. The hospitalization stay at EWCC ranged from 9 to 34 days. A total of 80 patients were followed in their routine hematologic laboratory screenings performed before and after hospitalization. Patients were divided into three groups depending on the status of their treatment: prevention of recurrence and metastasis group, KM treatment only group, and combination of conventional and KM treatment group. The lab reports included natural killer cell count (CD16 + CD56), fibrinogen, white blood cell (WBC), lymphocytes, monocytes, neutrophil, red blood cell (RBC), hemoglobin, platelet, Erythrocyte Sedimentation Rate (ESR), and Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) performance status. Results: With a Focus on patients' functional status, cancer-coagulation factors and cancer immunity, emphasis was placed on the NK cell count, fibrinogen count, and ECOG scores. Data generally revealed decreased fibrinogen count, fluctuating NK cell count and decreased ECOG, meaning improved performance status in all groups. The KM treatment only group showed the largest decrease in mean fibrinogen count and the largest increase in mean NK cell count. However, the group's ECOG score showed the smallest decrease, which may be due to the concentration of late-cancer-stage patients in that particular group. Conclusions: Multi-modality KM inpatient care may have positive effect on lowering the cancer coagulation factor fibrinogen, but its correlation with the change in the NK cell count is not clear.

• 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.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Integrative Medicine
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• v.2 no.2
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• pp.49-58
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• 2014

Purpose : This study was to evaluate the effectiveness of exercise therapies for breast cancer patients through review analysis of the rehabilitation they had usually received to increase the quality of their lives. Exercise therapy for breast cancer patients has proven to be highly effective, so it is strongly recommended. Method : Focusing on breast cancer-related journal articles published since 1990, an analysis using the Spolit and Medline search engines was undertaken of breast krebs, tumors, cancer, sportaktivitaet, and exercise in patients with breast cancer. Exercise for breast cancer patients has been considered to have positive effects on fatigue, muscle weakness, and the range of motion of upper extremities, as well as on depression. Breast cancer patients have to be divided according to their identifying clinical characteristics, and then have to be prescribed a suitable exercise program. In accordance with previous articles, a varied exercise program was organized in terms of frequency, duration, and intensity. The frequency was more than three times per week. Its duration was about 30 minutes per session. Result : The intensity of exercise was moderate. The types of exercises included recommended strengthening exercises, as well as various aerobic exercises. Based on previous data, a new exercise method for breast cancer patients was introduced in this study. Conclusion : Above all, exercise programs should be planned according to the different characteristics of breast cancer patients, in order to reduce physical impairments and psychological problems.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.14 no.3
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• pp.2009-2012
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• 2013

Objective: To investigate the efficacy and safety of Yadanzi$^{(R)}$ (Javanica oil emulsion injection) combined with chemotherapy for treatment of patients with advanced gastric cancer. Methods: From January 2011 to December 2012, we recruited 75 patients with advanced gastric cancer, who received javanica oil emulsion injection together with chemotherapy. After two cycles of treatment, efficacy and safety of the combined therapies were evaluated. Results: Overall response rate of 75 patients after treatment was 85.3% (CR+PR+SD). Treatment related side effects were recorded. No treatment related death occurred. Conclusions: Javanica oil emulsion injection combined with chemotherapy could be considered as a safe and effective regimen in treating patients with advanced gastric cancer. Further randomized clinical trials should be conducted to confirm whether the addition of Yadanzi$^{(R)}$ to chemotheraphy could be associated with reduced toxicity, enhanced tolerability and improved quality of life for patients with advanced gastric cancer.