The Treatment Approach and Social Support Needs for Patients with Breast Cancer

Abstract

IntroductionBreast cancer is the second most common cancer type in the world and the most common cancer type in women. The number of newly diagnosed breast cancers in 2012 was 1.67 million, and breast cancer makes up 25% of all types of cancer in women (1). According to the data of the World Health Organization (WHO), the number of women who died of breast cancer worldwide in 2011 was 508 000. Breast cancer incidence increases as life expectancy increases, and urbanization and western lifestyles are adopted more and more in today's ever-developing world. It frequently occurs in both developed and less developed countries (2).As breast cancer incidence increases in most parts of the world, there are major disparities between poor and rich countries in this regard (3). Patients in undeveloped and less developed countries are diagnosed later compared with patients in developed countries. Diagnosis at a late stage decreases treatment options and increases mortality (4).Diagnosis in an advanced stage could occur because of patient-related as well as healthcare system-related reasons. Reasons such as lack of knowledge on symptoms, risk factors, and screening methods of breast cancer, cultural taboos regarding cancer treatment centers, and fear of hospitals are amongst reasons for patient-related latency. Although there is less information regarding healthcare system-related reasons, physicians' lack of knowledge on diagnosis and treatment and obstacles patients experience in reaching a physician or a hospital are considered amongst these reasons (5, 6).The negative effects of breast cancer on women's health are multidimensional. Problems that arise based on cancer treatment, problems about family and occupational life, and uncertainties toward life in the future influence the individual's physical and psychologic health negatively. Therefore, making emotional and social support attempts during the duration of the disease is of vital importance (7). Materials and Methods:The study included 200 patients with breast cancer who were treated at the chemotherapy unit during 2013 and 2014.Results: The mean age of the patients was 51.16±1.10 years and 60% of the women were graduates of elemantary school. The majority of patients (69.5%) noticed breast mass as the first symptom and 56.5% were diagnosed at later stages. Thirty-four percent of the patients delayed their visit to a health care centers after realizing the first symptom. No statistically significant relationship was determined between women's education level, residential area, age, the first symptom noticed, stages of tumor, and patients and system-related delay (p>0.05). In terms of family history of breast cancer, there was a significant difference between patient-related and system-related delays (p<0.05). The family support score (24.8±4.6) was higher than those of friends and husbands (23.8±5.5, 21.3±6.4, respectively). The husband support score was statistically different in terms of intimacy between women and their husbands after disease (p<0.001). Conclusi...

An investigation of the relationship between social support and coping with stress in women with breast cancer

“…In the present study, it was determined that the perceived social support from family and total perceived social support were associated with effective coping with stress. In the literature, social support was found useful for patients with cancer, and these patients often received support from their families . It was determined that the support received from family members had a positive correlation with well‐being of patients with cancer, and as the support received from family increased, effective coping ways increased .…”

“…In the literature, social support was found useful for patients with cancer, 19,[22][23][24] and these patients often received support from their families. 5,17,20,24,33 It was determined that the support received from family members had a positive correlation with well-being of patients with cancer, 19,22,23 and as the support received from family increased, effective coping ways increased. 5,17,33 It was also reported that as the perceived social support increased, effective coping with stress increased.…”

“…14 Social support enables women to gain a positive point of view on their medical condition and cope with their disease better, and it also increases the effectiveness of treatment. [14][15][16] It is revealed in the literature that social support is useful for patients' ability to cope with stress, 5,[17][18][19][20] to physically and psychologically adapt, 21,22 and have enhanced quality of life. 8,23 Patients receive support in coping from family members, friends, health care service providers, and other patients with cancer.…”

Distribution of cervical and breast cancer risk factors in women and their screening behaviours

“…The participants were asked questions that involved breast self-examination, Pap smear test, clinical breast examination, diet, smoking and age at first labour. The findings are presented in detail in the tables in the findings section (Göl & Erkin, 2016;İz & Tümer, 2016;Kanbur & Çapık, 2011;Kolutek & Avci, 2015;Kurt, Canbulat, & Savaşer, 2013;Soylar & Genç, 2016).…”

“…Increasing prevalence of cancer every day is an important public health problem both in Turkey and in the world. If the cancer increase rate continues this way by the year 2030, every year 27 million new cancer diagnosis will be made, every year 17 million people will lose their lives due to cancer, and the number of people living with cancer will reach up to 75 million (Güner & Taşkıran, ; Kolutek & Avci, ; Soylar & Genç, ). International Agency for Research on Cancer (GLOBOCAN) data show that 14.1 cancer cases have developed worldwide, and there have been 8.2 million cancer‐related deaths (Carter, ).…”