Abstract
Background: Although the need for psychological care/support among cancer patients and their family members seems important, the current status of cancer patients' consultation is not clear. Object: The purpose of this study is to clarify whether cancer patients need individuals who can support them psychologically and in other ways and provide them with psychological care, and the current status of cancer patients' consultation. Subjects: Subjects are cancer patients and cancer survivors. Method: Method is a self-reported questionnaires via the Internet. Results: It was observed that 64.6% of the subjects needed individuals who could support them psychologically and in other ways and provide them with psychological care, and that almost all the persons who provided psychological care/ support were their family members. Further, 46.8% of the subjects discussed their condition with other patients who had the same disease, and they counseled each other in the same way. Moreover, 84.2% of them thought that such an experience was psychologically helpful. On the other hand, only 10.8% of the patients consulted a psychiatrist or a psychosomatic medicine doctor. Furthermore, 22.0% of the subjects tried to get a second opinion from another doctor. In addition, 35.4% of the patients experienced spiritual pain, and 33.9% of them discussed it with another person. Finally, 42.4% of the subjects reported that their family members were depressed during their treatment, and 62.7% of family members lent an ear to the subjects. Discussion: It was suggested that the construction of a system which could encourage cancer patients to consult with someone in the hospital is necessary.
