Fatigue Related Psychosocial Problems in Cancer Patients and their Solutions

Year 2012, Volume: 21 Issue: 4, 253 - 273, 01.12.2012

Beyhan Bag

Abstract

Fatigue in cancer patients may influence the individual from the very beginning of the disease, and may then continue months or even years after the treatment. Despite good progress in cancer therapy and reduction of side effects from the treatment, it still is not possible to talk about effective fatigue treatment. Fatigue related psycho-social problems limit the patient and negatively affect his/her quality of life: from daily activities to professional life. Fatigue measurement tool is developed according to international standards. For the patient's benefit it should be introduced into all stages of their medical treatment, behavior therapy and education. This review paper aims to discuss proposed solutions related to identification, treatment and care for the fatigue syndrome and concomitant psycho-social problems that are commonly overlooked despite having adverse effects on the patients' quality of life.

Keywords

Fatigue, Cancer, Psychosocial problems, Cancer patient, Psycho-oncology

Kanser Hastalarında Yorgunluğa Bağlı Psikososyal Sorunlar ve Çözüm Önerileri

Abstract

Kanser hastalarında yorgunluk semptomu hastalığın başlangıcından itibaren bireyi etkileyebilmekte ve tedavi tamamlandıktan aylar hatta yıllar sonra bile devam edebilmektedir. Kanserin tedavisi ve tedaviden kaynaklanan yan etkilerle ilgili sevindirici gelişmeler yaşanmasına karşın yorgunluğun giderilmesinde halen etkili tedavi girişimlerinden söz etmek olası değildir. Yorgunlukla bağlantılı psiko-sosyal sorunlar günlük yaşam aktivitelerinden meslek yaşamına kadar geniş bir yelpazede hastanın yaşamını sınırlayarak yaşam kalitesini olumsuz yönde etkiler. Uluslararası standartlara göre geliştirilmiş bir ölçüm aracıyla yorgunluğun saptanıp hastanın tıbbi tedavinin yanı sıra davranış terapisi, hasta eğitimi gibi diğer tedavi ve yöntemlerden yararlanması sağlanmalıdır. Bu derlemede çoğunlukla hastalarda göz ardı edilen buna karşın hastanın yaşam kalitesini olumsuz etkileyen yorgunluk semptomu ve beraberinde getirdiği psiko-sosyal sorunların tanımlanması, tedavi ve bakımıyla ilgili çözüm önerilerinin tartışılması amaçlanmıştır.

Keywords

Yorgunluk, kanser, Psiko-sosyal sorunlar, kanser hastaları, psiko-onkoloji

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