ABSTRACT
The aim of this preliminary study was to investigate whether religious practice can modify quality of life (QoL) in BC patients during chemotherapy. QoL and religion practice questionnaire (RPQ) scores were evaluated in a sample of BC patients in different moments. Before chemotherapy initiation, women with lower physical and social functional scores displayed higher RPQ scores. On the other hand, low RPQ patients worsened some QoL scores over time. Body image acceptance was positively correlated with religious practice and specifically praying activity. This preliminary study suggests the importance of religion in coping with cancer chemotherapy.
Subject(s)
Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols/toxicity , Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols/therapeutic use , Breast Neoplasms/drug therapy , Breast Neoplasms/psychology , Quality of Life/psychology , Religion and Medicine , Religion and Psychology , Adaptation, Psychological , Adult , Body Image/psychology , Brazil , Breast Neoplasms/pathology , Breast Neoplasms/surgery , Doxorubicin/administration & dosage , Doxorubicin/toxicity , Faith Healing , Female , Follow-Up Studies , Hospitals, University , Humans , Middle Aged , Neoadjuvant Therapy , Neoplasm Staging , Pilot Projects , Surveys and QuestionnairesABSTRACT
We report a patient with longstanding Behçet disease who presented sudden onset of headache and facial paresis. The magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) showed a mass in the right thalamus, extending to the lentiform nucleus, subthalamic area, right cerebral peduncle and deep subcortical white matter. Stereotactic brain biopsy disclosed gliosis with no signs of malignancy. The diagnosis of a pseudotumoral form of neuro-Behçet disease was done and she was treated with pulse methylpredinisolone and intravenous cyclophosphamide. After 8 weeks she had improved and a new MRI showed disappearance of the tumor-like lesion. The differential diagnosis, especially with central nervous system tumor is emphasized.