• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.13 no.9
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• pp.4511-4515
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• 2012

Background: In the Middle East, including Iran, breast cancer is the most frequent malignancy among women. Without treatment, a malignant breast tumor advances in stage, diminishing a woman's chances of survival. In this study we aimed to gain insight into the causes of delay in seeking treatment in patients with breast cancer. Methods: The participants in this qualitative, content analysis study were 10 women in whom a diagnosis of breast cancer in the stages of II b, III or IIV had been made. They were selected from patients of a major oncology clinic in Kerman, Iran. Data were collected by means of semi-structured interviews that lasted between 20 to 30 minutes. Sampling was discontinued when data saturation was achieved. Content analysis was conducted by classifying the data into themes and sub-themes. Results: The results of our study revealed several factors that interfered with patients' professional consultation seeking and prompt treatment. These factors included; lack of knowledge, fear of being diagnosed with cancer, not seeing oneself at risk, mental preoccupation and wrong diagnosis by physicians. Conclusions: This study suggests that women and even physicians need further information about breast cancer symptoms. Women need encouragement to seek medical advice when they encounter suspicious symptoms. Additionally, women may benefit from awareness of the pros of early detection and reassurance about the improvements in the success of breast cancer treatment.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.15 no.21
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• pp.9427-9432
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• 2014

Background: Delayed presentation of symptomatic breast cancer is a public health issue in Iran, making a major contribution to low survival. Despite the importance of this problem, current knowledge is insufficient to inform interventions to shorten patient delay. The aim of this study was to explore factors influencing patient delay in Iranian women with self-discovered breast cancer symptom. Materials and Methods: This qualitative study was conducted during 2012-2013. Purposeful sampling was used to recruit 20 Iranian women with self-discovered symptoms of breast cancer who attended the Cancer Institute of Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran. Data were collected through semi-structured in-depth audiotaped interviews, which were transcribed and analyzed using conventional content analysis with MAXqda software version 10. Findings: Content analysis of the data revealed four main themes related to the delay in seeking medical help including: 1) attributing symptoms to the benign conditions; 2) conditional health behavior; 3) inhibiting emotional expression; and 4) barriers to access to health care systems. Conclusions: These results suggest that patient delay is influenced by complex and multiple factors. Effective intervention to reduce patient delay for breast cancer should be developed by focusing on improvement of women's medical knowledge, managing patients' emotional expression and reform of the referral system.

• The Korean Journal of Rehabilitation Nursing
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• v.7 no.1
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• pp.78-87
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• 2004

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to identify relationship of urinary symptom, urinary discomfort and quality of life among the bladder cancer patients and benign prostate hypertrophy patients, and to contribute health promotion of such patients and nursing intervention development based on this results. Method: Study sample recruited bladder cancer patents(n=49) and benign prostate hypertrophy patients who admitted Seoul National University Hospital from June, 2002 to June, 2003. Both group patients were operated, and prostate hypertrophy patients group (mean 67.8 years old) were older than bladder cancer patients group(60.82 years old). Instruments was composed of general characteristics, urinary symptom scale(19 items), urinary discomfort scale(19 items) and quality of life scale(21 items). Data was analysed SPSS PC + 10. using mean, standard deviation, pearson correlation coefficient. Result as follows: 1. There was a statistically significant difference in occupation between two groups (p=.027). Hypertrophy patients group's age was more older than bladder cancer patients group. 2. The prostate hypertrophy patients group had the significantly higher score in urinary symptom (p=000) and nighttime urination frequency. However, there was no significant difference in incontinence symptoms and the symptoms associated bladder cancer between two groups. 3. The prostate hypertrophy patients group had significantly higher score in urinary discomfort (p=000) than the bladder cancer patients group. However, there was no significant difference incontinence discomfort and the discomfort associated bladder cancer between two groups. 4. The prostate hypertrophy patients group suffered more urinary discomfort than the bladder cancer patients group did. The quality of life the prostate hypertrophy patients group was lower than the quality of life the bladder cancer patients group. Quality of life was no statistically significant difference between two groups (p=000). 5. There was a positive correlation between urinary symptoms and urinary discomfort. However, there was a negative correlation between the quality of life and urination symptoms and discomfort. Conclusions: The prostate hypertrophy patients group had significantly higher score in urinary symptom and urinary discomfort (p=000) than the bladder cancer patients group. The quality of life the prostate hypertrophy patients group was lower than the quality of life the bladder cancer patients group. This means that urinary symptom and urinary discomfort in prostate hypertrophy patient group is more important problem. So, prostate hypertrophy patient group need to control the symptom. Therefore, nurses will be provide the intervention program to improve the bladder function after prostate hypertrophy surgery.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.13 no.6
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• pp.2557-2561
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• 2012

Breast cancer is the most frequently diagnosed cancer and the leading cause of cancer death in females in Turkey. The main problems experienced by women with breast cancer are physical losses, emotional distress and degradation in family, work and social roles. The purpose of this cross-sectional retrospective study was to investigate the socio-demographical characteristics and depressive symptoms of 125 newly diagnosed cases with breast cancer reported to cancer control department of Hatay provincial health directorate in 2011. To evaluate the depressive symptoms the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) was used. All 125 cases who participated in the study were female. The mean age was $49.2{\pm}11.9$. The mean BDI score of the cases was $17.5{\pm}10.6$. The number of cases whose BDI scores were 17 and above was 65 (52.0%), and the number of cases whose BDI scores were under 17 was 60 (48.0%). The most striking finding in our study was that only 4 of the cases were receiving psychological help and support. The rate of depression was found high in our study and psychological support is a must for patients with a life threatening disease such as cancer.

• Journal of Korean Biological Nursing Science
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• v.23 no.1
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• pp.83-90
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• 2021

Purpose: To determine associations of illness symptoms, perception of illness, coping with quality of life (QOL) of thyroid cancer patients and identify factors affecting their QOL. Methods: A cross-sectional study was performed using a self-administered questionnaire for 111 thyroid cancer patients after thyroidectomy. They were recruited from the outpatient clinic of one university hospital. Data collection was conducted from August 2018 to November 2018. Results: The QOL was significantly associated with interpersonal coping (β= 0.31, p< .001), monthly household income (β= 0.30, p< .001), illness symptoms (β= -0.22, p= .017), perception of illness (β= -0.20, p= .031), and education (β= 0.18, p= .037) in stepwise multiple regression. These factors explained 33.1% of QOL of thyroid cancer patients. Conclusion: Interpersonal coping is a major contributing factor to QOL. Therefore, thyroid cancer patients need good interpersonal coping for better quality of life.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.16 no.2
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• pp.723-730
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• 2015

Background: This study was performed to assess patient symptoms prevalence, frequency and severity, as well as distress and coping strategies used, and to identify the relationships between coping strategies and psychological and physical symptoms distress and demographic data of cancer patients. This cross-sectional descriptive study involved a total of 268 cancer patients with various types of cancer and chemotherapy identified in the oncology unit of an urban tertiary hospital. Materials and Methods: Data were collected using questionnaires (demographic questionnaire, Medical characteristics, Memorial Symptom Assessment Scale (MSAS) and Brief COPE scales and analyzed for demographic, and disease-related variable effects on symptom prevalence, severity, distress and coping strategies. Results: Symptom prevalence was relatively high and ranged from 14.9% for swelling of arms and legs to 88.1% for lack of energy. This latter was the highest rated symptom in the study. The level of distress was found to be low in three domains. Problem-focused coping strategies were found to be more commonly employed compared to emotion-focused strategies, demonstrating significant associations with sex, age group, educational levels and race. However, there was a positive correlation between emotion-focused strategies and physical and psychological distress, indicating that patients would choose emotion-focused strategies when symptom distress increased. Conclusions: These findings demonstrate that high symptom prevalence rates and coping strategies used render an improvement in current nursing management. Therefore development of symptoms management groups, encouraging the use of self-care diaries and enhancing the quality of psychooncology services provided are to be recommended.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.13 no.7
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• pp.3361-3366
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• 2012

Background & Objectives: The most northern and northwestern regions of Iran are at a high risk for gastric cancer. The aim of this study was to assess the general population's awareness about risk factors, symptoms and signs, preventive methods and management of gastric carcinoma in a high prevalence city in the North of Iran. Methods: A cross-sectional population-based telephone survey which was conducted on 3,457 residents of Rasht, the capital city of Guilan Province, to assess their awareness regarding gastric carcinoma. The questionnaires contained demographic data and statements on respondents' knowledge about risk factors, symptoms and signs, prevention and management of gastric cancer which were filled by general practitioners after asking the subjects. Data were analyzed in SPSS14. P<0.05 was considered significant. Results: The mean knowledge score of the respondents was $5.05{\pm}1.37$ regarding risk factors of gastric carcinoma, $4.39{\pm}1.99$ regarding symptoms and signs, $6.0{\pm}1.22$ regarding preventive strategies, and $1.6{\pm}1.16$ regarding management. Totally the mean knowledge level of the respondents toward gastric carcinoma would be $17.1{\pm}3.97$ from the maximum grade of 29. The age group of 45-55 y/o, bachelor degree and higher, physicians and nurses, those who had cancer history in friends or had the history of gastrointestinal diseases showed significantly higher knowledge scores (P=0.001). Conclusion: There is a general lack of awareness of cancer risk factors, symptoms and signs, methods of prevention, and importance of early diagnosis and treatment. Educational programs should be developed to promote adherence to recommended screening guidelines.

• Journal of Korean Traditional Oncology
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• v.18 no.1
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• pp.1-7
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• 2013

Objective : This study is purposed to report 2 cases of cancer patient whose symptoms related to radiation pneumonitis had been controlled with Saengmaek-san treatment. Methods : A 56-year-old female rectal cancer patient was prescribed with Saengmaek-san due to the symptoms which had developed 4 weeks after the completion of her radiotherapy session in both lungs. Her chief complaints were shortness of breath, dry cough and fatigue. Another case, 53-year-old male patient with hepatocellular carcinoma, had also developed symptoms of fatigue, weight loss and dry cough after his radiotherapy session in left upper lung zone. Radiological changes of both patients' chest X-ray suggested radiation pneumonitis. Results : Symptoms of the female patient were improved, especially shortness of breath, after Saengmaek-san treatment, without any aggravation in her chest X-ray result. However, infiltrative opacity in the left upper lung zone of the male patient was aggravated despite the improvement of his clinical symptoms. His remaining symptoms and radiological change were effectively controlled after steroid therapy. Conclusion : Seangmaek-san may be considered as a potential treatment for symptoms related to radiation pneumonitis with proper monitoring.

• Journal of Gastric Cancer
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• v.14 no.1
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• pp.15-22
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• 2014

Purpose: To evaluate the prevalence of esophageal reflux-induced symptoms after gastrectomy owing to gastric cancer and assess the relationship between esophageal reflux-induced symptoms and quality of life. Materials and Methods: From January 2012 to May 2012, 332 patients were enrolled in this cross-sectional study. The patients had a history of curative resection for gastric cancer at least 6 months previously without recurrence, other malignancy, or ongoing chemotherapy. Esophageal reflux-induced symptoms were evaluated with the GerdQ questionnaire. The quality of life was evaluated with the European Organization for Research and Treatment QLQ-C30 and STO22 questionnaires. Results: Of the 332 patients, 275 had undergone subtotal gastrectomy and 57 had undergone total gastrectomy. The number of GerdQ(+) patients was 58 (21.1%) after subtotal gastrectomy, and 7 (12.3%) after total gastrectomy (P=0.127). GerdQ(+) patients showed significantly worse scores compared to those for GerdQ(-) patients in nearly all functional and symptom QLQ-C30 scales, with the difference in the mean score of global health status/quality of life and diarrhea symptoms being higher than in the minimal important difference. Additionally, in the QLQ STO22, GerdQ(+) patients had significantly worse scores in every symptom scale. The GerdQ score was negatively correlated with the global quality of life score (r=-0.170, P=0.002). Conclusions: Esophageal reflux-induced symptoms may develop at a similar rate or more frequently after subtotal gastrectomy compared to that after total gastrectomy, and decrease quality of life in gastric cancer patients. To improve quality of life after gastrectomy, new strategies are required to prevent or reduce esophageal reflux.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine
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• v.35 no.4
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• pp.116-122
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• 2014

Objectives: Rectal cancer bleeding occurs approximately 20% of overall rectal cancer patients. The current standard treatments cannot cover minor bleeding enough. Failures of the local or systemic approaches to stop bleeding are frequently reported. Methods: we reported a case of male rectal cancer patient who was treated with herbal decoction and significantly improved on symptoms, such as, loose stools and rectal bleeding. Previous to first visiting to our clinic, he was prescribed to use oral tranexamic acids, which failed to relieve his symptoms. He was administered with an herbal decoction, Inhyungtang, clinically known to have hemostastic effect in hematochezia. Results & Conclusion: The prescription showed significant improvement on his symptom, in particular, his bleeding. Thus, we report his case and we expect further experiences and experimental studies to support efficacy of Inhyungtang.