Lifestyle of women with cancer. Part III. Impact of cancer on mental health of women
Keywords:
emotional state, neoplastic disease, depressionAbstract
Introduction. Any disease, a neoplastic one in particular, shatters the internal and external order of the affected woman who has to face new, earlier unknown situations. The commonest negative emotions felt are: fear, depression, anger, stress and anxiety about further functioning in the family and social or professional life.
Aim. The main objective of the study was to analyse the emotional state of women with cancers and effects of some factors on their emotional state.
Material and methods. The impact of age, place of residence, education, marital status and methods of treatment on mental health of patients with neoplastic diseases was assessed.
Results. Fear is the commonest emotional state accompanying cancer patients since the onset of disease. The emotional state of women suffering from cancers is determined by age, place of residence, marital status and the method of treatment applied. Surgery is most strongly associated with low self-esteem. In some cases, the surgical method is such a dramatic experience that it may lead to severe depression.
References
1. Kubacka-Jasiecka D, Łosiak W. Zmagając się z chorobą nowotworową. Kraków: Wydawnictwo Uniwersytetu Jagiellońskiego; 1999. p.101- 5,126-36.
2. Dębski R, Kulik R. Rozpoznanie i leczenie depresji towarzyszącej nowotworom narządu rodnego, Wektory Ginekologii. 2004;1:3-6.
3. www.psychoonkologia.info.pl, 13.12.2006.
4. Tomaszewska I. Psychologiczne aspekty depresji w chorobach nowotworowych, Psychoonkologia. 2000;7:9-18.
5. Karpińska A. Reakcje na podejrzenie i rozpoznanie choroby nowotworowej. Psychoonkologia dla lekarza. www.psychoonkologia. info.pl
6. Walęcka-Matyja K, Rostowska T. Samoocena i style radzenia sobie ze stresem u kobiet po operacji raka piersi, Psychoonkologia. 2002;6(2):37-45.
7. Borowiak A. Ocena jakości życia chorych na raka jajnika leczonych metodą chemioterapii wielolekowej na podstawie przeprowadzonych badań ankietowych, Ginekologia Onkologiczna. 2006;4(2):115-24.
