Abstract
Abstract In this study, we aimed to describe the concept of awareness of patients with secondary lymphedema developing after undergoing surgery for cancer. We analyzed a total of 20 materials: literature selected from the fields of nursing science, medicine, sociology, and psychology, as well as relevant publications, using methods suggested by Walker and Avant. The analyses revealed that the subjectsʼ self-awareness had covered “focusing on self”, “discomfort”, “differences from normal”, “interest”, and “fear”. Based on these findings, we defined the awareness of patients with secondary lymphedema developing after undergoing surgery for cancer as a “sense in which such individuals show reactions to symptoms/signs of lymphedema or perceive some changes; specifically, feeling discomfort or differences from normal, through objectively focusing on themselves as those who have a risk of lymphedema”. In addition, according to our definition, this cognitive process is influenced by patientsʼ knowledge and experience of lymphedema, the extent to which the disease hinders their lives, symptom severity, and the physical recognition after the cancer treatment. This concept is a part of the general ideas regarding symptom control, such as self-monitoring, and is necessary for recognizing and dealing with problematic symptoms. Thus, the concept is important for the early detection of symptoms, and will become a basis for providing thorough and effective support to prevent lymphedema.
