Two wars on one front: Experiences of gynaecological cancer patients in the COVID‐19 pandemic

Abstract

Objective The aim of this study is to explore the experiences of gynaecological cancer patients during the COVID‐19 pandemic from their own perspectives. Methods The study is a descriptive study with a qualitative design based on thematic analysis. We conducted the study with 17 women with gynaecological cancer and receiving chemotherapy in the Medical Oncology and Chemotherapy Unit of Kütahya Training and Research Hospital. The data were collected between April 2021 and May 2021 via an in‐depth individual interview form. The COREQ checklist was followed in the study. Results As a result of the interviews, we identified four main themes: the impacts of COVID‐19 on life, the impact of COVID‐19 on cancer treatment, the biggest fear during the COVID‐19 pandemic and the metaphors of struggling with cancer during the COVID‐19 pandemic. Conclusion The disruption of treatment services during the COVID‐19 pandemic and women's fear of infection by the virus led to delays in cancer diagnosis and treatment. This situation caused the women's state of health to deteriorate, and the resultant regret and sadness that they experienced had an adverse effect on their mental health. Furthermore, women's self‐isolation due to the fear of infection by the virus had a negative effect on their psychosocial health. Telehealth services should be provided for cancer patients to obtain accurate information and to easily access information about treatment processes during the pandemic, and telepsychological hotlines and peer support groups should be established to improve the psychosocial health of patients.

Cancer experience in metaphors: patients, carers, professionals, students – a scoping review

“…The metaphors we have subsumed under violence, human in general, and, in one case, education, present the cancer as a human being, for example, 'enemy', 31 'fellow' 31 and 'teacher'. 30 In contrast, the metaphors under nonhuman animate entity present the cancer as an animal ('octopus'), 32 a fantastic creature ('monster') 19 30 33 or a supernatural entity (e.g., 'demon'). 29 34 The metaphors in both violence and non-human animate entity groups tend to position the patient in a vulnerable and disempowered position in relation to the illness, as the illness is capable of scaring, hurting or killing them.…”

“…test and gift-suggesting a relatively benevolent view of cancer, were identified in Spanish (maestra 'teacher'), 30 Turkish ('test'), 32 Arabic (alla:h qad ḥalla bi: 'Allah's decree') 36 and Malay (pemberian 'gift'). 39 Religious test and gift metaphors in Arabic and Malay mirror certain religious beliefs, as the 'test' or 'gift' is from Allah.…”

“…9 21 28 Sports metaphors share with violence metaphors the representation of the relationship with cancer as competitive (e.g., 'overcoming cancer is very similar to running a race …') 31 while they share with Journey metaphors the representation of being ill as requiring perseverance (e.g., 'It's a marathon'). 32 In all reported cases, the patient is placed in the relatively empowered position of being at least equal to the cancer as a sporting opponent.…”

“…Confinement and deprivation metaphors capture the inability to experience life as the person did before the illness by presenting the cancer as a malevolent agent who deprives the person of things (e.g., 'This illness has taken everything away from me') 41 or freedom (e.g., 'It is as if someone had put a free bird in a cage'). 40 Water and danger metaphors express lack of control and fear via scenarios in which the patient is in danger of drowning because of falling into dangerous waters (e.g., 'As if I've fallen into a slime lake') 32 or being hit by waves ('After diagnosis, my life as a large wave rolling in'). 42 The metaphors we have subsumed under machinery-driven movement capture lack of control via scenarios in which the person cannot get off from a machine or vehicle that moves independently of their will (e.g., 'I think once you're on (the treadmill), you're on it').…”

Pesquisa e Extensão: Abordagem Interdisciplinar

“…Houve declínio no número de pacientes que compareceram às consultas de rotina e além de ter uma grande taxa de recusa dos próprios pacientes em fazer cirurgias, outro ponto preocupante foi o atraso no tratamento e em cirurgias, pois por serem pacientes com saúde frágil, as consequências da COVID-19 são potencialmente mais graves. Em um estudo realizado na Romênia foi constatado um aumento considerável na taxa de óbito nos pacientes com câncer que frequentavam a clínica e uma maior chance de precisar de intubação ou ventilação mecânica (AYDIN, et al 2022;KIRTANE, et al 2022;ILGUN, et al2021;LAMBLIN, et al2021;TRIFANESCU, et al2021;JONES, et al 2022;ASGHAR et al2022).…”