The Lived Experience of Gynecologic Cancer Survivors in Taiwan

Abstract

The journey of rehabilitation for GC survivors is very long. The participants in this study faced different respective challenges during the diagnosis, treatment, and adjustment phases. Conventional disease-oriented medical care cannot satisfy the requirements of cancer patients because of patient-decentralized services. Our results indicate that GC survivors face diverse problems, both physically and mentally. Healthcare professionals should work to facilitate the psychological adjustment of cancer survivors and provide timely professional advice in combination with social resources. These results may serve as a reference for cancer care professionals who are navigating healthcare services.

What factors shape quality of life for women affected by gynaecological cancer in South, South East and East Asian countries? A critical review

“…Women’s family members, friends and colleagues—usually other women—were important sources of support [ 36 , 37 , 39 , 42 , 44 , 47 – 49 , 55 ]. Chan and colleagues, for example, describe how family members and friends provided women with support by cooking nutritious meals and providing expensive foods, doing housework, childminding and accompanying women to medical appointments [ 55 ].…”

“…This was not always welcomed; in one study in China, women regarded the special meals cooked by family and friends as undesirable because they did not want to be treated differently [ 36 ]. In Taiwan women reported support from their children, who they perceived to be more thoughtful and affectionate [ 47 ]. In a comparative study of Thai Buddhist and Muslim women, regular meetings with family members were associated with a higher incidence of women’s psychological needs being met [ 44 ].…”

“…Studies in Hong Kong, China, Taiwan and Japan reported on support from health care providers, other women affected by cancer, and patient groups [ 36 , 47 , 48 , 51 , 55 ]. Health workers typically provided advice and information [ 55 ], but some also provided emotional support through reassurance and demonstrated empathy [ 47 , 51 ].…”

“…Studies in Hong Kong, China, Taiwan and Japan reported on support from health care providers, other women affected by cancer, and patient groups [ 36 , 47 , 48 , 51 , 55 ]. Health workers typically provided advice and information [ 55 ], but some also provided emotional support through reassurance and demonstrated empathy [ 47 , 51 ]. Japanese women reporting on post-treatment care indicated that some doctors offered emotional support, but others were disengaged, seemed rushed and were non-communicative [ 51 ].…”

Chinese Version of the Assessment of Survivor Concerns Scale for Gynecological Cancer Survivors: A Psychometric Study in Taiwan

“…Gynecologic cancers, defined as cancers infecting the uterine corpus, uterine cervix, or ovaries in the female reproductive system, are the leading category of cancers of women domestically (Health Promotion Administration, Ministry of Health and Welfare, Taiwan, ROC, 2017). As elsewhere, gynecologic cancer survivors in Taiwan struggle with FCR and fear of death as a consequence of cancer survivorship (Tsai, Wang, Liang, Tsai, & Tsay, 2017).…”