Abstract
The aim of this planned research was to determine the comfort and anxiety levels of women with breast cancer receiving radiotherapy. This descriptive type study covered patients that applied to the radiation oncology breast polyclinic of our university hospital between January and May 2011. Patient Identification Form, Radiation Therapy Comfort Questionnaire (RTCQ), Spielberger State Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI) were completed and analysed. The mean age of the women who participated in the study was 51.6 ± 10.4 years. Mean scores of women were 3.73 ± 0.31 for RTCQ, 29.1 ± 5.88 for SAI and 37.8±6.91 for TAI. While the comfort levels of the women with breast cancer receiving radiotherapy were moderate, they experienced only low levels of anxiety. By determining the comfort level of the patient before radiotherapy, besides providing comfort in this direction, eliminating/minimizing anxiety and stress will positively affect radiotherapy application. More attention of nurses to this issue is to be recommended.
Highlights
Breast cancer is by far the most frequent cancer among women with an estimated 1.38 million new cancer cases diagnosed in 2008 (23% of all cancers), and ranks second overall (10.9% of all cancers)
Materials and Methods: This descriptive type study covered patients that applied to the radiation oncology breast polyclinic of our university hospital between January and May 2011
Setting and sample The universe of this descriptive type study consisted of the women with breast cancer that applied to the radiation oncology breast polyclinic of a university hospital between January and May 2011
Summary
Breast cancer is by far the most frequent cancer among women with an estimated 1.38 million new cancer cases diagnosed in 2008 (23% of all cancers), and ranks second overall (10.9% of all cancers). Detection of a tumor in the breast, fear of radiotherapy, the devices used and their effects are not known, perception of the waiting and treatment room, experiencing side effects and mutual occurrence of these factors causes anxiety It has been determine in the literature that; anxiety due to radiotherapy is ranked first among other factors influencing patients’ adherence to treatment, this is followed by physical discomfort (Dragomir and Fodoreanu, 2013; Ho et al, 2013; Hyphantis, 2013). The aim of this planned research was to determine the comfort and anxiety levels of women with breast cancer receiving radiotherapy. More attention of nurses to this issue is to be recommended
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