Well-Being among Cancer Patients

Abstract

Cancer diagnosis is a life-threatening traumatic event which can deeply affect the individual's psychological well-being, leading to depressive symptoms and anxiety, related to psychological distress (Gallagher et al., 2002). Recent times have seen an increase in the incidence of cancer, mainly attributed to urbanization, industrialization, lifestyle changes, population growth and many other unknown reasons. In spite of good advancements for diagnosis and treatment, cancer is still a big threat to the society (Kotnis et al., 2005). This is the second most common disease after cardiovascular disorders for maximum deaths in the world (Jemal et al., 2007). It accounts for about 23% and 7% deaths in USA and India, respectively. Projections based on the GLOBOCAN 2012 estimates predict a substantive increase to 19.3 million new cancer cases per year by 2025, due to growth and ageing of the global population. The myth that cancer affects people mostly in the developed countries is being broken by the fact that, more than half of all cancers (56.8%) and cancer deaths (64.9%) in 2012 occurred in less developed regions of the world, and these proportions will increase further by 2025. Deaths from cancer worldwide are projected to continue rising, with an estimated 13.1 million deaths in 2030. The cancer burden in developing countries is reaching pandemic proportions. Cancer is one of the leading causes of death in India, with about 2.5 million cancer patients, 1 million new cases added every year and with a chance of the disease rising five-fold by 2025. Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) has urged the Government of India to make cancer a disease requiring notification. There is a high probability of treating cancers if detected early - in Stage I or Stage II.Risk Factors for Cancer: According to epidemiological studies, 8090% of all cancers are due to environmental factors of which, lifestyle related factors are the most important and preventable. The major risk factors for cancer are tobacco, alcohol consumption, infections, dietary habits and behavioral factors. Tobacco consumption, either by way of chewing or smoking, accounts for 50% of all cancers in men. Studies have shown that appropriate changes in lifestyle will reduce the mortality and morbidity caused to cancer. About 30% of cancer deaths are due to the five leading behavioral and dietary risks: high body mass index, low fruit and vegetable intake, lack of physical activity, tobacco and alcohol use. The increasing trend of cancer in recent decades and its adverse effects on the physical, emotional, spiritual, social, and economic aspects, introduced cancer as a major health problem of the century. Most of these patients would experience more severe mental problems such as anxiety or depression, which can reduce their quality of life and their daily activities (Pedram, 2011 ).Cancer is primarily an environmental disease with 90-95% of cases attributed to environmental factors and 5-10% due to genetics. Environmental, as used by cancer researchers, means any cause that is not inherited genetically, not merely pollution. Common environmental factors that contribute to cancer death include tobacco (25-30%), diet and obesity (30-35%), infections (15-20%), radiation (both ionizing and non-ionizing, up to 10%), stress, lack of physical activity, and environmental pollutants. It is nearly impossible to prove what caused cancer in any individual, because most cancers have multiple possible causes. For example, if a person who uses tobacco heavily, develops lung cancer, then it was probably caused by the tobacco use, but since everyone has a small chance of developing lung cancer as a result of air pollution or radiation, then there is a small chance that the cancer developed because of air pollution or radiation.Cancer and Well Being: Well being is not just the absence of disease or illness but a complex combination of a person's physical, mental, emotional and social health status. …