Search results

1

The influence of socio-demographic factors on making a decision related to the disease and treatment in women with breast cancer

100%

Nowicki A., Wiśniewska K., Rhone P.

OncoReview

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2015

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vol. 5

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issue 3

A125-132

EN

Introduction. Socio-demographic factors may affect the decision making associated with the disease and the long-term results of treatment. Objective. Exploring the relationship between socio-demographic factors of women treated for breast cancer and decision- making associated with the disease and treatment. Material and methods. The study involved 100 women aged 30 to 72 (mean: 57 years) who were treated at the Oncology Center in Bydgoszcz in 2013–2014 due to breast cancer. A survey questionnaire on socio-demographic factors and data on knowledge about prevention and disease was used in the study. Results. The number of women performing breast self-examination decreased with age; 83% of patients over 50 years old and 76% (p = 0.0001) over 69 years old underwent mainly mammography (p = 0.03). Self-detection of breast tumor also decreased with age and was detected more frequently by the medical personnel (p = 0.0001). More educated women (85%) examined themselves more often than those with primary and vocational education (p = 0.001). According to our assessment, the number of women with knowledge about cancer decreased with age (p = 0.004). The same was true for women in a very good and good financial situation, with 94% of them declaring a higher knowledge level (p = 0.001). Conclusions. Women’s knowledge about breast cancer is not satisfactory, especially in older and less educated women. They obtain knowledge from the Internet mainly and from the medical staff in the smallest degree. Young women up to 49 years of age perform self-examination to detect breast cancer most often, while older women use mammography. Almost all women immediately report to the doctor and are admitted to clinics after detecting lesions with mammography or self-examination.

2

Evaluation of the quality of life of women treated due to breast cancer using amputation or breast conserving surgery in the early postoperative period

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Nowicki A., Licznerska B., Rhone P.

Polish Journal of Surgery

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2015

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vol. 87

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issue 4

174-180

EN

Selection of the treatment method in breast cancer patients and its consequences may affect their quality of life through somatic, psychical, and social factors. The aim of the study was early evaluation of the quality of life of women after mastectomy vs. breast conserving surgery. Material and methods. The study included 100 women aged 31 to 79 years (mean: 57) who underwent surgery due to breast cancer (amputation: 52; breast conserving surgery: 48 women) at the Cancer Centre in Bydgoszcz in 2014. The QLQ C-30 and QLQ BR-23 questionnaires were used to evaluate the quality of life of the patients 3 months after surgery. Results. In the Global Health Status/QoL domain, the mean score for women after amputation and breast conserving surgery was 49 and 53, respectively; for Physical Functioning, the scores were 70 and 75, and for Role Functioning, 62 and 68, respectively. For Cognitive Functioning, the mean score was 74 and 73; for Emotional Functioning - 62 and 68, and for Social Functioning 64 and 60, respectively. The difference in the arm symptoms domain was significant at 46 and 33 points, respectively (p = 0.004). The patients treated with breast conserving surgery had a better body image than women after amputation - the mean score was 52 and 66, respectively (p = 0.01). Conclusions. With respect to Global Health Status/QoL and Physical Functioning, the quality of life of women in the early postoperative period was similar in women after breast amputation and those who underwent breast conserving surgery. Patients treated with breast conserving surgery had a better score for body image, while those who underwent amputation more often suffered from arm symptoms, such as pain, oedema, and problems with raising of the limb.

3

The quality of life, general health, and pain sensations after treatment in the assessment of breast cancer patients

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Nowicki A., Trybulska J., Rhone P.

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vol. 8

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issue 2

54-59

EN

Introduction: General quality of life, health, and sensation of pain caused by cancer are connected with the physical, mental and social state of a human being. Aim of the study: The aim of the study is self-assessment of life quality, general health, and pain sensations in breast cancer patients after adjuvant therapy with chemo- and radiotherapy. Material and methods: The study was carried out in 2016 at the Professor Franciszek Łukaszczyk Oncology Clinic in Bydgoszcz. 56 women with breast cancer were qualified for the study, upon completion of treatment. Socio-demographic and clinical data was used, questions 29 and 30 from the QLQ C30 questionnaire, and the Memorial Pain Assessment Card. Results: Generally, the average self-assessment of health and life quality was 4.98 and 5.18 points, respectively. Age, education, marital status and the place of residence did not have any influence on the self-assessment of health and life quality (p > 0.05). 46 women (82.1%) did not take analgesics. Those patients who did not take analgesics assessed their health and life quality better, with the average scores of 5.3 and 5.63 points, respectively. The average for pain intensity was 2.05 on a 0–11 scale. Most women – 14 (25%) – assessed their mood as very good. The mood average was 2.91 points. Only the administration of analgesics influenced the mood score (p = 0.001). Conclusions: Women with breast cancer after radical treatment assess their health and life quality as good. Those not taking analgesics assess their health and life quality better and are decidedly in a better mood than those taking such medications. Socio-demographic factors do not influence self-assessment of health, life quality, or pain intensity.

4

Knowledge about prevention, risk factors and treatment in women with diagnosed breast cancer. Whether the disease affects their healthy behaviour?

100%

Nowicki A., Rusak K., Rhone P.

OncoReview

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2015

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vol. 5

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issue 2

A81-90

EN

Objective. The assessment of knowledge about prevention and risk factors of women with diagnosed breast cancer. Material and methods. The study involved 100 women aged from 28 to 82 years (median 56.2 years) who were treated at the Oncology Center in Bydgoszcz in 2014 for breast cancer. Author’s original questionnaire containing questions on knowledge about breast cancer as well as environmental and demographic data was used in this research. Results. Self-examination of a breast was made by 83% of women, 85% of women benefited from invitations for mammography. 56% of women knew how often mammography should be repeated but only 28% knew at what age it should be started. Tumor in a breast (20.5%) and “pulling” nipples (14.4%) were the most frequently reported symptoms of a cancer. In terms of risk factors, genetics (32.2%) and unhealthy lifestyle (16.3%) were the factors pointed by women most often. Every third women indicated only one factor while every four indicated three factors. 69% of the respondents increased their knowledge after falling ill, from the Internet (20.5%) as well as from information leaflets and brochures (16.6%). Women’s knowledge about breast cancer was at the edge of low and average levels and the average value was 11.7 points. More knowledge had women with higher education 12.95 points, single 12.9 and young women 12.3. Conclusions. The knowledge about the disease among women with diagnosed breast cancer was unsatisfactory and did not depend on age, marital status, place of residence, type of work but on education level only. Older and uneducated women had less knowledge, particularly about factors increasing the risk of developing the disease. The Internet, information leaflets and brochures were the primary source of knowledge about the disease, not a doctor or a nurse. Women with breast cancer were aware of the importance of preventive tests. They declared that they can perform self-examination. The most frequently reported symptoms of cancer are tumor and “pulling” nipples.

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The influence of socio-demographic factors on making a decision related to the disease and treatment in women with breast cancer

Evaluation of the quality of life of women treated due to breast cancer using amputation or breast conserving surgery in the early postoperative period

The quality of life, general health, and pain sensations after treatment in the assessment of breast cancer patients

Knowledge about prevention, risk factors and treatment in women with diagnosed breast cancer. Whether the disease affects their healthy behaviour?