Abstract

A questionnaire survey was conducted in 110 patients treated with chemotherapy for hematological malignancies to investigate changes in taste sensation (salty, sweet, sour and bitter) and to develop better dietary support.

The patients were instructed to fill out the questionnaire by themselves.

The following results were obtained.

1. Taste disturbance was noted during chemotherapy in 44.5% of patients for salty taste and 40.9% for sweet taste. It was also noted after chemotherapy in 33.5% of patients for salty/sweet taste and 26.4% for sour/bitter taste. Changes in taste sensation were greater during chemotherapy than after chemotherapy.

2. Changes in salty taste sensation were more frequently noted in patients given alkaloids agents than those who were not given these drugs. Changes in sweet taste sensation were more frequently noted in patients given adrenocorticosteroid than those who were not given drugs.

3. There were no relationship between taste disturbance and food intake during chemotherapy. After chemotherapy, however, in food intake many patients with bitter taste disturbance was significantly lower than those without bitter taste disturbance.

The above results suggest that it is very important to carefully examine patients undergoing chemotherapy with alkaloids agents or adrenocorticosteroid with respect to changes in taste sensation. It is also suggested that the reduction of urea in food, which is attributable to bitter taste, will result in an increase in food intake in patients after chemotherapy.

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to describe social support among women with breast cancer and to investigate the relationship of social support, psychological, and physical states. A cross-sectional study was designed. A convenient sample of 113 women with breast cancer, who were no less than 6 months and no more than 5 years after breast surgery and who were receiving follow-up care at the Outpatient Breast Clinic at one cancer center, participated in the study. The Japanese versions of the Norbeck Social Support Questionnaire, the Interpersonal Relationship Inventory, and the 60-item General Health Questionnaire were used to obtain data. Descriptive statistics, Pearson correlations, and multiple regression analyses were performed. The analyses indicated there were positive correlations between marital status and social support variables, such as Aid (r＝ .25 ; p＜ .01 ; r²＝ .06) and Total Functional (r＝ .20 ; p＜ .05 ; r²＝ .04). Also, Conflict, one social support variable, had a positive correlation with psychological states (r＝30 ; p＜ .01 ; r²＝ .09). However, there was no significant correlation between these social support variables and physical states. The set of social support variables (i.e., Conflict, Total Support, and Reciprocity) predicted psychological states (R＝ .3372 ; R²＝ .1137 ; F＝4.2768 p＝ .0069). Moreover, their sources of social support were mainly family members, relatives, and friends, including other breast cancer patients. These significant correlations revealed that social support should be considered as an important factor to help women's adjustment to breast cancer. Reconsideration for concept of social support and recommendations for practice were discussed. Further research was proposed.

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to examine cancer survivors' perception of their cancer experiences on adaptation process. Thirty adult cancer survivors were interviewed and examined through participant observation. They were residents of metropolitan areas in Japan who were discharged from hospitals more than five months ago. An inductive analysis was used to categorize their own words or behavior related to their experience during the adaptation process.

From an analysis of the data, I withdrew two themes : ① assuming one's responsibility and ② accepting one's condition. Four domains that represent cancer survivors' intent to adapt to cancer experiences were found : ① kinds of responsibility that should be assumed, ② ways to assume responsibility, ③ characteristics of condition that should be accepted, ④ ways to accept conditions. Two cognitive domains through which they adapt to the cancer experience were found : ① awareness of limitations of their own capabilities ; and ② perception of a line between self and others. The cognitive domain was constructed by three categories expressed by ; “there are problems that only I can solve” ; “there are other problems that I cannot solve by myself” ; and “there are matters beyond my control”. The latter domain was built around and expressed by : “one cannot solve other people' s problems” ; “I should not disturb the lines of others or burden them with my needs”, “I want to keep some aspect of my condition private”, and “I appreciate and think about my relationships”.

Cancer survivors establish a sound self concept by distinguishing self from others and realizing their own responsibility to self and their own mental capacity. So nurses should pay attention to how they keep their relationship and help them to represent their self hood.