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Depression and anxiety levels in woman under follow-up for breast cancer: relationship to coping with cancer and quality of life

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Abstract

Aim The relation of anxiety and depression levels with characteristics of coping with the disease and quality of life were evaluated in women under follow-up for breast cancer. Materials and Methods Patients who had presented to the breast cancer polyclinics for follow-up were evaluated. The Beck Depression and the State-Trait Anxiety inventories were used in the evaluation of depression and anxiety levels. In order to evaluate their power to cope with cancer, the patients were questioned for a social support network. EORTC QLQ-C30 and QLQ-BR23 questionnaires were applied for quality of life evaluations. Results There were 23 (19%) patients with depression; 3 (2.5%) with grade I anxiety, 94 (77%) grade II, and 23 (19%) grade III anxiety, respectively. Depression and anxiety levels were affected by the following parameters: being unaccompanied by spouse for hospital follow-ups (P < 0.0001); request to get help by a psychologist (P = 0.02); presence of a person to share their problems (P < 0.0001); and using an alternative treatment (P = 0.04). In the quality of life evaluations, difficulty in sleeping, emotional status, fatigue, and body appearance were related with both depression and anxiety (P < 0.05 for all), whereas physical function (P = 0.002), role performance (P = 0.005), cognitive condition (P < 0.0001), social position (P < 0.0001), pain (P < 0.0001), general health (P < 0.0001), treatment methods (P = 0.001), future anxiety (P < 0.0001), and arm symptoms (P = 0.001) were negatively affected in patients with depression. Conclusion High depression and anxiety levels in patients under follow-up for breast cancer influence the coping with cancer and quality of life adversely.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Radiation Oncology, Celal Bayar University Medical School, Manisa, Turkey

    Omur Karakoyun-Celik

  2. Department of Radiation Oncology, Dokuz Eylul University Medical School, Izmir, Turkey

    Ilknur Gorken, Sema Sahin, Esmahan Orcin, Hilmi Alanyali & Munir Kinay

  3. 116/16 sk. No:4 D:16, Bornova, Izmir, 35050, Turkey

    Omur Karakoyun-Celik

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Karakoyun-Celik, O., Gorken, I., Sahin, S. et al. Depression and anxiety levels in woman under follow-up for breast cancer: relationship to coping with cancer and quality of life. Med Oncol 27, 108–113 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12032-009-9181-4

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