Exploring Discomfort Experienced During Chemotherapy in Thai Breast Cancer Patients

Abstract

Exploring Discomfort during ChemotherapyAsian Pac J Cancer Prev, 24 (2), 459-465 surgery, to remove a cancerous tumor. The main goal of adjuvant chemotherapy is to lower the chance that cancer will return and improve the outcome of first-line treatment. (National Comprehensive Cancer Network, 2019).Discomfort for breast cancer patients might be felt during adjuvant chemotherapy simultaneously with a side effect from previous treatment, such as after surgery. Adjuvant therapy can consist of physical discomfort, including pain, fatigue, difficulty sleeping, nausea and vomiting, taste disorders, hair loss, constipation, diarrhea, sexual dysfunction, loss of appetite, and weight loss.

Psychological distress in adult women of reproductive age at different stages after breast cancer diagnosis: A qualitative study

“…Symptoms in patients with breast cancer after chemotherapy and radiotherapy are complex and variable. Physical symptoms often serve as the ‘trigger point’ that increases the psychological and social burden upon patients, seriously affecting their functional status and quality of life (Lee et al., 2017: Phongnopakoon et al., 2023). Symptoms are interrelated and can have a negative synergistic effect, thereby increasing the physical burden on patients.…”

Factors predicting self-compassion among patients with breast cancer undergoing chemotherapy in Thailand: A cross-sectional study

“…Interestingly, since all of our participants were Buddhist, they might apply Buddhist approaches to deal with stress. Buddhist breast cancer patients resorted to religious support to relieve discomfort from chemotherapy, such as by praying, attending religious rituals, and practicing dharma (Phongnopakoon et al, 2023 ). This implies the potential of Buddhist approaches to help cancer patients cope with stress during chemotherapy.…”

“…However, there are adverse effects of chemotherapy that cause great suffering to patients. It causes fatigue (Phongnopakoon et al, 2023 ), nausea and vomiting (Phongnopakoon et al, 2023 ), psychological problems such as fear, uncertainty, depression, and anxiety (Thasaneesuwan & Nilmanat, 2019 ), resulting in lower quality of life (Ilyas et al, 2020 ). Thus, patients with breast cancer undergoing chemotherapy need to regulate their emotions and deal with suffering using self-compassion.…”