An evaluation of lifestyle changes in Turkish cancer patients after diagnosis.

Abstract

e20503 Background: To determine lifestyle changes in cancer patients after the diagnosis of malignancy. Methods: Between March 16th and September 30th, 2011, a questionnaire consisting of 20 questions was administered via a face-to-face interview to 150 patients at the Marmara University Hospital Oncology Unit. Each patient was queried during the administration of their chemotherapy. Six of the questions were independent choices, and 14 were dependent (multiple choice). A local ethical committee approval is obtained. Results: Of the 150 patients, 70 (46%) were male and 80 were female, and their median age was 55 (range 22-82) years old. An unusually large percentage (28%) of the patients reported that they did not know their diagnosis, and in another question 25% reported that they did not want to talk about their illness. Following their diagnosis, 71% of males and 50% of females reported that they were complying with guidelines for a healthy lifestyle, and 19% of the patients said that they were eating healthier food. At the time they filled out the questionnaire, 61% said that they were hopeful; however, close to 10% said that they felt hopeless. Approximately 53% of the participants said that following their diagnosis, they had a more sympathetic view of the underserved and underprivileged. Conclusions: It was surprising that an unexpectedly high percentage of the respondents reported that they did not make any changes in their lifestyles after their diagnosis of cancer, including eating healthier food. It appears Turkish cancer patients are coping with cancer in different means and ways than we expected of them.