Evaluation of Emotional Distress in Breast Cancer Patients

Hamid Saeedi - Saedi; Soodabeh Shahidsales; Mona Koochak - Pour; Emad Sabahi; Irene Moridi

International Journal of Cancer Management

The Official Journal of Cancer Research Center (CRC), Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences

Outlines

Abstract
Copyright

Evaluation of Emotional Distress in Breast Cancer Patients

Author(s):

Hamid Saeedi - Saedi¹,

Soodabeh Shahidsales^2,*,

Mona Koochak - Pour³,

Emad Sabahi⁴,

Irene Moridi⁵

1Dept . of Radiation Oncology, Cancer Research Center, Gilan University of Medical Science s , Gilan, Iran

2Cancer Research Center, School of Medicine, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran

3Dept. of Internal Medicine, Gilan University of Medical Sciences, Gilan, Iran

4Dept. of Anesthesiology, Urmia University of Medical Sciences, Urmia, Iran

5Cancer Research Center, School of Medicine, M ashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran

International Journal of Cancer Management:Vol. 8, issue 1; e80579

Published online:Feb 28, 2015

Article type:Research Article

Received:May 10, 2014

Accepted:Nov 05, 2014

How to Cite:Hamid Saeedi - SaediSoodabeh ShahidsalesMona Koochak - PourEmad SabahiIrene MoridiEvaluation of Emotional Distress in Breast Cancer Patients.Int J Cancer Manag.8(1):e80579.

Abstract

Background: Cancer has been known as a class of dangerous diseases which cause tremendous physical and emotional problems to both patients and their families. In spite of medical advances, cancer is still considered to be equal with death and pain. This study aims to analyze the emotional distress and the causes in breast cancer patients.

Methods: This study was a quantitative study which tries to analyze the emotional distress in 82 breast cancer patients referred to the Radiotherapy and Oncology Department of Razi Hospital in Rasht, northern Iran. In this study, the emotional distress is analyzed based on a standard questionnaire which contains demographic information, distress thermometer, and a section devoted to the probable causes.

Results: Among the 82 patients that participated in this study, 32 patients (39%) suffered from severe emotional distress which had a statistically significant relationship (p<0.009) with the functional status of the patients. Taking care of children, fear, anxiety, difficulties of taking bath and wearing clothes, family problems, fever and nasal dryness are the most common issued related to emotional distress.

Conclusion: Emotional distress can affect the quality of life of breast cancer patients. Therefore, oncology specialists should utilize mental health services to improve their patients’ mental health as well as to control the consequences of the disease.

Keywords

Fulltext

The Full text is available in PDF.

comments