The Lived Experience of Ethiopian Women After Mastectomy due to Breast Cancer: A Qualitative Study.

BACKGROUND: The impact of breast absence on women's lived experiences is not well studied in Sub-Saharan Africa particularly in Ethiopia, with implications for service design. This study aimed to explore the lived experiences of Ethiopian women after mastectomy due to breast cancer. METHODS: A qualitative study approach was used to explore the experiences of women who underwent a mastectomy at the oncology unit of Tikur Anbessa Specialized Hospital. Before the commencement of the study, consent was obtained from each respondent. An in-depth interview was conducted with twelve post-mastectomy women using a semi-structured interview guide. Audio-recorded data were transcribed verbatim and translated into English. Data were coded, sorted, and themes were developed manually based on the thematic analysis. RESULTS: Five themes illustrating the impact on the women's life after mastectomy were identified and categorized into (1) Perceived alteration in physical and psychosocial aspects, (2) Perceived social support, and adapting to life after mastectomy. CONCLUSION: Our finding suggests that women who underwent mastectomy need holistic care including physical, psychosocial, and emotional support from their family, society, and healthcare professionals.

Formas de enfrentamento do câncer de mama: discurso de mulheres mastectomizadas / Ways of coping with breast cancer: discourse of mastectomized women

Introdução: Na neoplasia de mama ocorrem inúmeras transformações na vida da pessoa acometida e de todas as pessoas próximas, sentimentos como medo, angústia e tristeza. Diante disso, a identificação dos métodos usados para enfrentar a neoplasia de mama faz-se crucial, visto que proporciona melhor vivência desse momento por parte da mulher e de todos os envolvidos. Objetivo: Compreender as formas de enfrentamento do câncer de mama por meio do discurso de participantes de um grupo de apoio. Metodologia: Pesquisa descritiva com abordagem qualitativa realizada com 10 mulheres que participam de um grupo geral de apoio, localizado em um município da Paraíba, Brasil. Para a coleta de dados, utilizou-se entrevista semiestruturada, e como processo metodológico para a análise dos dados, o Discurso do Sujeito Coletivo. Resultados: Foi possível a compreensão de três ideias centrais em relação às formas de enfrentamento do câncer de mama: ''Ancoragem na fé e espiritualidade''; ''Suporte familiar''; e ''Grupo de apoio''. Conclusão: O estudo atingiu seu objetivo de identificar as principais formas de enfrentamento do câncer de mama por mulheres mastectomizadas, podendo elucidar a importância da fé e espiritualidade, o suporte familiar e a participação em grupos de apoio por meio do discurso das participantes.

Introducción: Con el cáncer de mama se producen numerosos cambios en la vida de la persona afectada y de las personas cercanas, en los que se manifiestan sentimientos como el miedo, la angustia y la tristeza. Ante eso, la identificación de los métodos utilizados para enfrentar el cáncer de mama es crucial, ya que permite una mejor vivencia de ese momento para la mujer y los involucrados. Objetivo: Comprender las formas de afrontamiento del cáncer de mama, a través del discurso de mujeres mastectomizadas en un grupo de apoyo. Metodología: Investigación descriptiva con enfoque cualitativo realizada con 10 mujeres que participan en un grupo de apoyo, ubicado en un municipio de Paraíba, Brasil. Para la recolección de datos, se utilizaron entrevistas semiestructuradas. Además, como proceso metodológico de análisis de datos, se aplicó el Discurso Colectivo del Sujeto. Resultados: Fue posible comprender tres ideas centrales sobre las formas de enfrentamiento del cáncer de mama: ''Anclaje en la fe y la espiritualidad''; ''Apoyo familiar''y ''Grupo de apoyo''. Conclusión: El estudio alcanzó su objetivo de identificar las principales formas de enfrentamiento del cáncer de mama por parte de las mujeres con mastectomía. Se pudo dilucidar la importancia de la fe y la espiritualidad, el apoyo familiar y la participación en grupos de apoyo, a través del discurso de las participantes.

Introduction: When facing breast cancer, patients and their loving ones experiment many changes in their lives filled with feelings such as fear, anguish, and sadness. In the light of this, the identification of the coping methods used to face breast cancer is crucial to provide a better experience for all those involved. Objective: To understand the ways of coping with breast cancer through the discourse of mastectomized women in a support group. Methodology: Descriptive research with a qualitative approach carried out with 10 women who participate in a support group, located in a municipality in Paraíba, Brasil. For data collection, semi-structured interviews were conducted and as a methodological process for data analysis, the Collective Subject Discourse was used. Results: It was possible to understand three central coping mechanisms: ''Anchoring in faith and spirituality''; ''Family support'', and ''Support group''. Conclusion: The study reached its objective of identifying the main ways of coping with breast cancer by women who had mastectomies, their discourse highlighted the importance of faith and spirituality, the support of their families, and their participation in support groups.

Aromatherapy Plus Music Therapy Improve Pain Intensity and Anxiety Scores in Patients With Breast Cancer During Perioperative Periods: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

INTRODUCTION: To investigate the effect of perioperative aromatherapy (AT) or/plus music therapy (MT) on pain and anxiety level, and the potential mechanism in women experiencing breast cancer surgery. METHODS: A total of 160 patients with breast cancer were randomly assigned in a 1:1:1:1 ratio to receive usual care (UC), AT, MT, or combination therapy (CT) during perioperative periods. Pain intensity and anxiety scores were measured by visual analog scale. Interleukin (IL)-6 and high mobility group box 1 (HMGB-1) were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. RESULTS: There was a significant group effect on pain, anxiety, and IL-6 and HMGB-1 levels, with the greatest improvement occurring in the CT group (P < .001). Compared with the UC group, the AT and MT groups had lower mean changes of pain intensity and IL-6 and HMGB-1 levels, and greater anxiety reduction (P < .001). However, the differences between the AT and MT groups did not reach significance (P > .05). CONCLUSION: In patients with breast cancer, perioperative CT achieves greater pain improvement and anxiety reduction and less marked increase in IL-6 and HMGB-1 levels. These results suggest that CT is an acceptable complementary and alternative medicine for breast cancer patients.

Music intervention improves the physical and mental status for patients with breast cancer: A protocol of randomized controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: Breast cancer is the most familiar cancer and the major cause of the cancer death in women worldwide. The breast cancer patients may suffer from severe mental and physical trauma. At present, there are few studies on the music therapy for patients with breast cancer. The objective of our paper is to assess the effect of music intervention on mental and physical state of breast cancer patients. METHODS: The experiment will be implemented from June 2021 to June 2022 at Jinan Central Hospital. The experiment was granted through the Research Ethics Committee of Jinan Central Hospital (no.08847765). The inclusion criteria requires that the age of female patients ranges from 25 to 65 years old, and the pathological diagnosis of breast cancer requires radical mastectomy (containing extensive radical mastectomy and modified radical mastectomy). Patients who do not like to listen to music or have severe debilitating diseases or are allergic to the sound will be excluded. Patients in the intervention group are given music intervention, and in control group, patients do not receive any information about the music therapy in the period of this study. The primary outcome is quality of life, psychological distress. The secondary outcomes are the heart rate, blood pressure, as well as Visual Analog Scale (VAS). RESULTS: Table 1 will illustrate the postoperative outcomes after music interventions between groups. CONCLUSION: Music intervention can improve the mental and physical health of the breast cancer patients. TRIAL REGISTRATION: This study protocol was registered in Research Registry (researchregistry6168).

A systematic review of factors affecting quality of life after postmastectomy breast reconstruction in women with breast cancer.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study is to present a broader perspective of factors affecting the quality of life after postmastectomy breast reconstruction in women with breast cancer by considering these patients' self-reported outcomes. METHODS: The search was performed from 29 March to 19 April 2019, on the following databases: PsycInfo; Web of Science Core Collection, Current Contents Connect, Derwent Innovations Index, KCI-Korean Journal Database, Russian Science Citation Index, SciELO Citation Index, and MEDLINE. The studies were included if they identified factors affecting self-reported quality of life after breast reconstruction, in women with breast cancer. RESULTS: One hundred and twenty-two records were identified. After quality assessment, 44 studies were included for qualitative synthesis. This review comprised a total of 16 683 women who underwent breast reconstruction. The results identified a broad collection of 32 empirically based variables associated with several domains of quality of life. These variables were grouped into four categories: (a) surgical, (b) clinical, (c) psychosocial, and (d) sociodemographic variables. CONCLUSIONS: This systematic review goes beyond surgical factors of morbidity and uses patient-reported outcomes to scope wider issues that influence quality of life, such as psychosocial and sociodemographic variables. It sustains the need to adopt a more holistic approach and advises the consideration of preoperative psychosocial factors to better understand these patients' quality of life after breast reconstruction and to implement future preventive measures.

Day Surgery Management of Early Breast Cancer: Feasibility and Psychological Outcomes.

BACKGROUND/AIM: Breast cancer treatment represents a substantial amount of health-care costs and has a negative impact on womens' psychological health. Day-Surgery managment (DS) is a favorable alternative to a classic inpatient setting. In our prospective study we evaluated DS-treatment feasibility in terms of patient satisfaction, same-day-discharge rate, surgical-reintervention rate, psychological impact and costs. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We operated on 131 early breast cancer patients in DS. Surgical outcomes were evaluated. In 64 DS-treated breast cancer patients, psychological outcomes were analyzed using validated psychometric questionnaires and comparison was made with a corresponding group of women treated as inpatients. RESULTS: The same-day-discharge rate was 95.4%. No patient required readmission. The surgical-reintervention rate was 6.2%. DS-treatment significantly reduced anxiety (p=0.05) and depression (p=0.01) and afforded cost savings of 49%. CONCLUSION: DS-treatment of early breast cancer was feasible, with low reintervention rate, reduced anxiety and depression, high patients' satisfaction and substantial financial savings.

The effect of treatment on patient-reported distress after breast cancer diagnosis.

BACKGROUND: The National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) Distress Thermometer (DT) uses a 10-point scale (in which 0 indicates no distress and 10 indicates extreme distress) to measure patient-reported distress. In the current study, the authors sought to examine the relationship between treatment and NCCN DT scores in patients with breast cancer over time. METHODS: The authors included women aged ≥18 years who were diagnosed with stage 0 to stage IV breast cancer (according to the seventh edition of the American Joint Commission on Cancer staging system) at a 3-hospital health system from January 2014 to July 2016. Linear mixed effects models adjusted for covariates including stage of disease, race/ethnicity, insurance, and treatment sequence (neoadjuvant vs adjuvant) were used to estimate adjusted mean changes in the DT score (MSCs) per week for patients undergoing lumpectomy, mastectomy only, and mastectomy with reconstruction (MR). RESULTS: The authors analyzed 12,569 encounters for 1029 unique patients (median score, 4; median follow-up, 67 weeks). Patients treated with MR (118 patients) were younger and more likely to be married, white, and privately insured compared with patients undergoing lumpectomy (620 patients) and mastectomy only (291 patients) (all P < .01). After adjusting for covariates, distress scores were found to decline significantly across all 3 surgical cohorts, with patients undergoing MR found to have both the most preoperative distress and the greatest decline in distress prior to surgery (MSC/week: -0.073 for MR vs -0.031 for lumpectomy vs -0.033 for mastectomy only; P = .001). Neoadjuvant therapy was associated with a longitudinal decline in distress for patients treated with lumpectomy (-1.023) and mastectomy only (-0.964). Over time, ductal carcinoma in situ (-0.503) and black race (-1.198) were found to be associated with declining distress among patients treated with lumpectomy and MR, respectively, whereas divorced patients who were treated with mastectomy only (0.948) and single patients treated with lumpectomy (0.476) experienced increased distress (all P < .05). CONCLUSIONS: When examined longitudinally in consecutive patients, the NCCN DT can provide patient-reported data to inform expectations and guide targeted support for patients with breast cancer.

The Effect of Uncertainty Management Program on Quality of Life Among Vietnamese Women at 3 Weeks Postmastectomy.

BACKGROUND: In Vietnam, breast cancer is a top contributor to cancer-related deaths in women. Evidence shows that, after mastectomy, women in Vietnam have a lower quality of life than women in other countries. In addition, high uncertainty is a predictor of low quality of life postmastectomy. Therefore, if nurses can manage uncertainty, the quality of life postmastectomy can improve. OBJECTIVE: This study examined the effect of the Uncertainty Management Program (UMP) on quality of life at 3 weeks postmastectomy in Vietnamese women. METHODS: This research was a quasi-experimental study using a "posttest only with control group" design. There were 115 subjects assigned to either the experimental group (n = 57), who participated in the UMP and routine care, or the control group (n = 58), who received only routine care. Participants were assessed 2 times postmastectomy using the modified Quality of Life Index Scale-Vietnamese version. RESULTS: The experimental group exhibited low uncertainty before discharge and significantly higher quality of life than the control group at 1 and 3 weeks postmastectomy, respectively (P < .05). Women's physical well-being, psychological well-being, body image concerns, and social concerns were significantly increased with UMP. CONCLUSION: The UMP was considered as a promising program that might benefit the QoL of women with breast cancer 3 weeks postmastectomy. IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE: The UMP appears feasible to apply for women with breast cancer to improve their QoL postmastectomy in various settings. Nurses can flexibility instruct women in their holistic care attention both in the hospital and at home.

The advantages of hypnosis intervention on breast cancer surgery and adjuvant therapy.

BACKGROUND: In oncology, hypnosis has been used for pain relief in metastatic patients but rarely for induction of anesthesia. MATERIAL AND METHOD: Between January 2010 and October 2015, 300 patients from our Breast Clinic (Cliniques universitaires Saint-Luc, Université catholique de Louvain) were included in an observational, non-randomized study approved by our local ethics committee (ClinicalTrials.gov - NCT03003611). The hypothesis of our study was that hypnosis intervention could decrease side effects of breast surgery. 150 consecutive patients underwent breast surgery while on general anesthesia (group I), and 150 consecutive patients underwent the same surgical procedures while on hypnosis sedation (group II). After surgery, in each group, 32 patients received chemotherapy, radiotherapy was administered to 123 patients, and 115 patients received endocrine therapy. RESULTS: Duration of hospitalization was statistically significantly reduced in group II versus group I: 3 versus 4.1 days (p = 0.0000057) for all surgical procedures. The number of post-mastectomy lymph punctures was reduced in group II (1-3, median value n = 1.5) versus group I (2-5, median value n = 3.1) (p = 0.01), as was the quantity of lymph removed (103 ml versus 462.7 ml) (p = 0.0297) in the group of mastectomies. Anxiety scale was also statistically reduced in the postoperative period among the group of patients undergoing surgery while on hypnosis sedation (p = 0.0000000000000002). The incidence of asthenia during chemotherapy was statistically decreased (p = 0.01) in group II. In this group, there was a statistically non-significant trend towards a decrease in the incidence of nausea/vomiting (p = 0.1), and the frequency of radiodermitis (p = 0.002) and post-radiotherapy asthenia (p = 0.000000881) was also reduced. Finally, the incidence of hot flashes (p = 0.0000000000021), joint and muscle pain (p = 0.0000000000021) and asthenia while on endocrine therapy (p = 0.000000022) were statistically significantly decreased in group II. DISCUSSION: Hypnosis sedation exerts beneficial effects on nearly all modalities of breast cancer treatment. CONCLUSION: Benefits of hypnosis sedation on breast cancer treatment are very encouraging and further promote the concept of integrative oncology.

Neoadjuvant radiotherapy followed by mastectomy and immediate breast reconstruction : An alternative treatment option for locally advanced breast cancer.

BACKGROUND: The optimal sequence of mastectomy with immediate breast reconstruction (IBR) and radiotherapy (RT) for the treatment of locally advanced breast cancer (LABC) is still under debate. Increased rates of postoperative complications are described following postmastectomy RT. Neoadjuvant RT aims to improve the aesthetic results and simplify the reconstructive pathway. PATIENTS: A total of 22 patients diagnosed with LABC and treated with neoadjuvant RT followed by mastectomy and IBR between 04/2012 and 03/2015 were retrospectively analyzed. RT consisted of external beam RT to the breast and the regional lymphatics, if indicated. Both implant-based and autologous tissue-transfer reconstruction techniques were used. RESULTS: At the time of RT, 10 patients had no prior surgery and 12 patients had previously undergone breast-conserving surgery (BCS) with positive resection margins without the possibility to perform a second BCS. Additional neoadjuvant chemotherapy was administered in 18 patients prior to RT. A complete pathological response was achieved in 55.0% of patients. The 2­year overall survival rate was 89.3%, the 2­year disease-free-survival 79.8% and the local-recurrence-free survival was 95.2%. The cosmetic result was excellent or good in 66% of the patients treated with upfront mastectomy and 37% of the patients who had previously undergone BCS. Among patients who received implant-based IBR, 4 patients developed serious wound-healing problems with implant loss. The most satisfactory results were achieved with autologous tissue reconstruction. CONCLUSION: A sequential neoadjuvant chemo-/radiotherapy to allow IBR following mastectomy in selected cases of LABC seems feasible and can be safely attempted. Careful patient selection, close monitoring, and continuous patient support is mandatory to ensure compliance in this treatment strategy.

How informed is declared altruism in clinical trials? A qualitative interview study of patient decision-making about the QUEST trials (Quality of Life after Mastectomy and Breast Reconstruction).

BACKGROUND: Randomised controlled trials (RCTs) often fail to recruit sufficient participants, despite altruism being cited as their motivation. Previous investigations of factors influencing participation decisions have been methodologically limited. This study evaluated how women weigh up different motivations after initially expressing altruism, and explored their understanding of a trial and its alternatives. The trial was the 'Quality of Life after Mastectomy and Breast Reconstruction' (QUEST) trial. METHODS: Thirty-nine women participated in qualitative interviews 1 month post-surgery. Twenty-seven women (10 trial decliners and 17 acceptors) who spontaneously mentioned 'altruism' were selected for thematic analysis. Verbatim transcripts were coded independently by two researchers. Participants' motivations to accept or decline randomisation were cross-referenced with their understanding of the QUEST trials and the process of randomisation. RESULTS: The seven emerging themes were: (1) altruism expressed by acceptors and decliners; (2) overriding personal needs in decliners; (3) pure altruism in acceptors; (4) 'hypothetical altruism' amongst acceptors; (5) weak altruism amongst acceptors; (6) conditional altruism amongst acceptors; and (7) sense of duty to participate. Poor understanding of the trial rationale and its implications was also evident. CONCLUSIONS: Altruism was a motivating factor for participation in the QUEST randomised controlled trials where the main outcomes comprised quality of life and allocated treatments comprised established surgical procedures. Women's decisions were influenced by their understanding of the trial. Both acceptors and decliners of the trial expressed 'altruism', but most acceptors lacked an obvious treatment preference, hoped for personal benefits regarding a treatment allocation, or did not articulate complete understanding of the trial. TRIAL REGISTRATION: QUEST A, ISRCTN38846532 ; Date assigned 6 January 2010. QUEST B, ISRCTN92581226 ; Date assigned 6 January 2010.

[Correction of the functional state of the autonomous nervous system in the women presenting with the postmastectomy syndrome at the stationary stage of the rehabilitative treatment]. / Korrektsiya funktsional'nogo sostoyaniya vegetativnoi nervnoi sistemy u zhenshchin s postmastektomicheskim sindromom na statsionarnom etape lecheniya.

UNLABELLED: A frequent consequence of the treatment of breast cancer is the postmastectomy syndrome that combines psycho-emotional and functional disorders in various body systems. AIM: The objective of the present study was to evaluate the influence of the program of differential physical rehabilitation on the functional state of the autonomic nervous system in the women with the postmastectomy syndrome at the stationary stage of the rehabilitative treatment. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The study included 50 presenting with the postmastectomy syndrome following radical mastectomy as described by J.L. Madden. The patients were randomly divided into two groups comprised of 25 patients each. The main group consisted of the women at the mean age of 55,44±1,06 years, the group of comparison (2) was composed of the women at the mean age of 55,60±1,14 years. The program of the rehabilitative treatment of the patients in group 1 envisaged the use of the physical therapeutic modalities chosen on an individual basis in agreement with the basic principles of medical gymnastics including the differential selection of static and dynamic respiratory maneuvers with due regard for the type of vegetative regulation in a given patient, post-isometric relaxation, Vodder's manual lymphatic drainage and autotraining as described by J.H. Suhultz. The patients comprising the group of comparison performed therapeutic physical exercises as described by T.I. Grushina. The analysis of the literature and empirical data was combined with that of the heart rate variability was measured twice: within days 2-3 after the surgical intervention and on days 19-20 of the hospital stay. The methods of mathematical statistics were employed to treat the data obtained. RESULTS: The study has demonstrated reduced reserves of vegetative support, the overall decrease of the heart rate variability, and enhanced tension of the adaptive mechanisms in this group of women. Moreover, it showed the positive outcome of the physical rehabilitation program designed to correct most of the time-related and spectral parameters of the heart rate variability and gave evidence of the significant improvement of the total activity of the regulatory systems due to the enhancement of the high-frequency, low-frequency and very low-frequency components of the spectrum. The values of the stress index and the mode amplitude were reduced whereas the adaptive capabilities of the autonomic nervous system in women of the main group were extended. CONCLUSION: The proposed program of differential physical rehabilitation can be employed in the practical work of the specialized healthcare facilities for the correction of the functional state of the autonomic nervous system in the women with the postmastectomy syndrome.

Effects of Music Therapy on Anesthesia Requirements and Anxiety in Women Undergoing Ambulatory Breast Surgery for Cancer Diagnosis and Treatment: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

PURPOSE: To investigate the effect of live and recorded perioperative music therapy on anesthesia requirements, anxiety levels, recovery time, and patient satisfaction in women experiencing surgery for diagnosis or treatment of breast cancer. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Between 2012 and 2014, 207 female patients undergoing surgery for potential or known breast cancer were randomly assigned to receive either patient-selected live music (LM) preoperatively with therapist-selected recorded music intraoperatively (n=69), patient-selected recorded music (RM) preoperatively with therapist-selected recorded music intraoperatively (n=70), or usual care (UC) preoperatively with noise-blocking earmuffs intraoperatively (n=68). RESULTS: The LM and the RM groups did not differ significantly from the UC group in the amount of propofol required to reach moderate sedation. Compared with the UC group, both the LM and the RM groups had greater reductions (P<.001) in anxiety scores preoperatively (mean changes [and standard deviation: -30.9 [36.3], -26.8 [29.3], and 0.0 [22.7]), respectively. The LM and RM groups did not differ from the UC group with respect to recovery time; however, the LM group had a shorter recovery time compared with the RM group (a difference of 12.4 minutes; 95% CI, 2.2 to 22.5; P=.018). Satisfaction scores for the LM and RM groups did not differ from those of the UC group. CONCLUSION: Including music therapy as a complementary modality with cancer surgery may help manage preoperative anxiety in a way that is safe, effective, time-efficient, and enjoyable.

The "Princess Mirror": Exemplars of the Use of the Mirror in Nursing Practice.

PROBLEM: Incorporating mirrors into nursing is a relatively new field of research and practice. The focus of two studies was to explore (a) the meaning of women's mirror experiences following a mastectomy and (b) the experience of viewing self in the mirror for women who were terminally ill. The goal of the research was to establish a conceptual foundation for the development of nursing mirror interventions. METHODS: Open-ended questions and dialogical engagement in one-to-one audio-taped interviews were used in both studies. Ricoeur's hermeneutic phenomenology was used to analyze the findings. FINDINGS: Four concepts were uncovered in the experience of viewing self in the mirror: decision, seeing, understanding, and consent. CONCLUSION: Exemplar composite case studies across the care continuum are provided as examples of the way in which mirrors may be utilized in nursing practice.

The Mirror Program: Preparing Women for the Postoperative Mastectomy Mirror-Viewing Experience.

PROBLEM: Preparing women for the experiences they will endure during the breast cancer trajectory improves psychological outcomes and quality of life. Women have found that it may be difficult to view themselves in a mirror after having a mastectomy. Supporting women who have had a mastectomy in mirror-viewing and body image is a relatively new yet important intervention in oncology nursing. METHODS: The feasibility of a preoperative mirror program given by oncology nurse navigators to women who were scheduled for a mastectomy was examined in this randomized control study. FINDINGS: Pre- and postoperative data on anxiety, body image, depression, emotional well-being, and mirror use were collected from intervention participants (n = 10) and control subjects (n = 9). CONCLUSION: This article illustrates the development of the mirror program and the results of the feasibility trial, and provides a discussion with implications for future research.

[Nursing experience with a schizophrenic breast cancer patient after mastectomy].

This case study used cognitive therapy to improve the life quality of a 46-year-old woman with chronic schizophrenia who had undergone a mastectomy for breast cancer. This case had suffered from schizophrenia for over 24 years and was hospitalized in the chronic ward of our hospital. Breast cancer was revealed during an annual comprehensive physical checkup. In May 2012, this case received a right mastectomy at a local hospital. After the surgery, she was readmitted to the psychiatric acute ward for further care from May 30th to August 28th, 2012. A holistic nursing assessment was conducted that addressed five major aspects. The major nursing problems found during hospitalization were: acute pain, body image disturbance, and low self-esteem. A decline in pain score from 10 to 4 was achieved by developing rapport with the patient, empathizing with her distress, and providing active care to the wound. Her body image changed because of loosing her breast. Her acceptance of the loss improved through helping her to explore her feelings of change. To improve her self-esteem, we offered cognitive therapy to change her negative thinking process. She became more sanguine and cheerful. Moreover, her dependence in terms of activities of daily living decreased. This individualized intervention contributed to the recovery of a post-mastectomy, schizophrenic patient from low self-esteem.

Beneficial Effects of Pranic Meditation on the Mental Health and Quality of Life of Breast Cancer Survivors.

BACKGROUND: Breast cancer survivors frequently present long-lasting impairments, caused either by the disease or its treatment, capable of compromising their emotional health and quality of life. Meditation appears to be a valuable complementary measure for overcoming some of these impairments. The purpose of the present investigation was to assess the effect of pranic meditation on the quality of life and mental health of breast cancer survivors. DESIGN: This study was a prospective single-arm observational study using before and after measurements. METHODS: The subjects were 75 women submitted either to breast cancer therapy or to posttherapy control who agreed to practice pranic meditation for 20 minutes, twice a day, during 8 weeks, after receiving a formal training. The quality of life of the practitioners was assessed by the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORTC) QLQ-C30 and EORTC BR-023 questionnaires, and the mental health status by the Goldberg's General Health Questionnaire. RESULTS: After 8 weeks of pranic meditation practice, the subjects showed a significant improvement of their quality of life scores that included physical (P = .0007), role (P = .01), emotional (P = .002), and social functioning (P = .004), as well as global health status (P = .005), fatigue (P < .0001), pain (P = .007), sleep disturbances (P = .01), body image (P = .001), arm symptoms (P = .007), and breast symptoms (P = .002). They also showed a reduction of the side effects of systemic therapy (P = .02) and being upset by hair loss (P = .02). Moreover, meditation was associated with improvement of the mental health parameters of the practitioners that included psychic stress (P = .001), death ideation (P = .02), performance diffidence (P = .001), psychosomatic disorders (P = .02), and severity of mental disorders (P = .0003). The extension of the meditation period from 8 to 15 weeks caused no substantial extra benefits in practitioners. CONCLUSIONS: The results of this pilot study showed that breast cancer survivors presented significant benefits related to their mental health and quality of life scores after a short period of practice of pranic meditation, consisting of simple and easy-to-learn exercises. However, because of the limitations of the study, further research is required using a more rigorous experimental design to ascertain whether pranic meditation may be an acceptable adjunct therapy for cancer patients.

Efeitos da intervenção Hatha-Yoga nos níveis de estresse e ansiedade em mulheres mastectomizadas / The effects of hatha yoga exercises on stress and anxiety levels in mastectomized women

O objetivo deste artigo é avaliar os efeitos da Hatha-Yoga nos níveis de estresse e ansiedade de mulheres mastectomizadas, bem como examinar a relação destes níveis com as variáveis: idade, estado civil, religião, escolaridade, profissão, tabagismo, etilismo, estadiamento da doença e fase de tratamento. Trata-se de um ensaio clínico aleatorizado controlado cuja amostra foi constituída por 45 mulheres mastectomizadas atendidas no Ambulatório Ilza Bianco do Hospital Santa Rita de Cássia, Espírito Santo, Brasil, de março a novembro de 2010. O grupo experimental participou de 6 intervenções aplicadas individualmente com incentivo para a prática domiciliar e foi reavaliado após esse período, enquanto o grupo controle foi reavaliado em período proporcional. Para o estudo das variáveis, foi utilizada a técnica de entrevista com registro em formulário, os Inventários de Ansiedade Traço e Estado e o Sinais e Sintomas de Stress. Para o tratamento estatístico foi utilizado o Pacote Estatístico para Ciências Sociais. Os dados encontrados são estatisticamente significantes e demonstraram que a intervenção Hatha-Yoga diminuiu o estresse e a ansiedade no grupo experimental. Não foi encontrada relação das variáveis de confundimento com os níveis de ansiedade e estresse.

This article seeks to evaluate the effects of hatha yoga on stress and anxiety levels in mastectomized women. It also investigates the relationship between these levels with the following variables: age; marital status; religion; instruction; profession; smoke addiction; elitism; staging of the disease; and treatment phase. This involved controlled random clinical trial sampling of 45 mastectomized women treated at the Ilza Bianco outpatient service of Santa Rita de Cássia Hospital in the Brazilian state of Espírito Santo from March to November 2010. The experimental group participated in 6 individually-applied sessions with incentive for ongoing home practice and was re-evaluated after the period, whereas the control group was re-evaluated after a proportional period. For the study of the variables, the interview and recording on a form technique was used, along with the Anxiety Trait and State Test, and the Stress Symptoms and Signs Test. For statistical treatment, the Statistical Pack for Social Sciences was used. The data are statistically significant and have shown that hatha yoga exercises decrease stress and anxiety in the experimental group. No connection between confounding variables and anxiety and stress levels was found.

[The effects of hatha yoga exercises on stress and anxiety levels in mastectomized women]. / Efeitos da intervenção Hatha-Yoga nos níveis de estresse e ansiedade em mulheres mastectomizadas.

This article seeks to evaluate the effects of hatha yoga on stress and anxiety levels in mastectomized women. It also investigates the relationship between these levels with the following variables: age; marital status; religion; instruction; profession; smoke addiction; elitism; staging of the disease; and treatment phase. This involved controlled random clinical trial sampling of 45 mastectomized women treated at the Ilza Bianco outpatient service of Santa Rita de Cássia Hospital in the Brazilian state of Espírito Santo from March to November 2010. The experimental group participated in 6 individually-applied sessions with incentive for ongoing home practice and was re-evaluated after the period, whereas the control group was re-evaluated after a proportional period. For the study of the variables, the interview and recording on a form technique was used, along with the Anxiety Trait and State Test, and the Stress Symptoms and Signs Test. For statistical treatment, the Statistical Pack for Social Sciences was used. The data are statistically significant and have shown that hatha yoga exercises decrease stress and anxiety in the experimental group. No connection between confounding variables and anxiety and stress levels was found.