Symptoms and uncertainty in breast cancer survivors in Korea: differences by treatment trajectory

Abstract

To provide trajectory-sensitive nursing intervention for uncertainty among breast cancer survivors, age, marital status and pain should be considered during treatment, while factors such as economic status, dyspnoea and insomnia should be taken into account after treatment.

Uncertainty, Self-efficacy, and Self-care Behavior in Patients With Breast Cancer Undergoing Chemotherapy in China

“…Observed responses may have been influenced by how ''new'' chemotherapy was to the patient (ie, how much treatment women had already had), although previous studies have demonstrated consistently greater uncertainty levels during the treatment period compared with posttreatment. 3 n Conclusion…”

“…1 Chemotherapy is widely used in the treatment of breast cancer and causes many adverse effects, such as hair loss, vomiting, nausea, anorexia, fatigue, anxiety, and sleep disturbance. 2,3 Women diagnosed with breast cancer are challenged to learn to manage these distressing adverse effects and also to participate in complex treatment regimens and cope with a life-threatening diagnosis. The breast cancer experience can cause significant psychological burden and put heavy self-care demands on these patients.…”

Patient and Clinician Communication of Self-reported Insomnia During Ambulatory Cancer Care Clinic Visits

“…Insomnia and fatigue were related to depression and depression is known to be closely associated with diminished quality of life. Broeckel and colleagues 16 , Kim, Lee and Lee 17 and Dow and colleagues 18 found that even following treatment, breast cancer survivors continued to have problems with sleep which were associated with other symptoms and adverse quality of life. Arndt and colleagues 19 reported worse quality of life and insomnia in younger colon cancer survivors when compared to the general population and in a qualitative study of 21 cancer survivors, Fleming and colleagues 13 found that the adverse effect of insomnia on quality of life lasted well beyond the cessation of active treatment for cancer.…”

The Social Environment and Illness Uncertainty in Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease

“…Research consistently indicates that greater uncertainty is associated with more symptoms of depression and anxiety and reduced quality of life in a variety of chronic illnesses [4–9]. Uncertainty has also been associated with worse physical symptoms (i.e., pain and fatigue) in cross sectional samples [4, 10]. Prospective research indicates that uncertainty is associated with worse shortness of breath over a two-year period among individuals with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease [6].…”