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To observe the changes in anxiety and pain levels according to verbal and/or visual education during brachytherapy (BRT) sessions in locally-advanced cervical cancer or inoperable endometrial cancer patients who were consulted for BRT. Visual and/or verbal education was performed in 121 patients who were treated with BRT in 9 cancer centers in Turkey and all patients were asked to respond the Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI) and Visual Facial Anxiety Scale (VFAS) at diagnosis, after educations at the 1st and the last BRT sessions. The patients were categorized into three groups according to type of education (group 1: only verbal, group 2: only visual, and group 3: both verbal and visual education). Friedman and Wilcoxon tests were performed to evaluate changes with education in BAI and VFAS during BRT. BAI and VFAS were compared between groups with Kruskal-Wallis and the Mann-Whitney U tests. Only verbal, only visual, and both verbal and visual education was administered to 57 (48%), 37 (31%), and 26 (22%) patients, respectively. During BRT sessions, 77 (64%) patients received analgesia. The median BAI scores at diagnosis, the 1st and the last BRT sessions were similar between groups. While BAI score slightly increased in the 1st BRT session compared scores at diagnosis in group 1 (p=0.039), BAI score in the last BRT session was significantly lower compared to scores in the 1st BRT session in group 2 (p=0.016), and BAI score significantly decreased at the 1st and the last BRT sessions compared to scores at diagnosis in group 3 (p=0.014 for both). BAI scores at diagnosis, the 1st, and the last BRT sessions were similar in patients who received analgesia or any kind of education without analgesia (p=0.314, p=0.178, and p=0.389, respectively). VFAS significantly decreased at the last BRT session compared to the 1st BRT session in group 3 (p=0.014). Although VFAS at the 1st BRT session was significantly higher in group 3 than group 1 and 2 (p=0.003 and p=0.004, respectively), VFAS at the last BRT session in group 3 was similar with group 1 and 2. The VFAS at the 1st BRT session was significantly lower in patients who received analgesia without combination of visual and verbal education than those received combination of visual and verbal education without analgesia (p=0.001), but VFAS at the last BRT session was similar between these subgroup of patients (p=0.052) despite lower rate of analgesia usage in group 3 compared to group 1 and 2 (41% vs 50% vs 9% for group 1, 2, and 3, respectively, p<0.001). Administration of any kind of education have similar effects as analgesia on reducing anxiety levels of patients before BRT sessions. Combination of both verbal and visual education has a greater anxiety and pain reducing effect than only verbal or visual education. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Based on the idea that the expected depression, anxiety and sexual disorders in cancer patients can be psycho-sociologically relieved when early detection and support is provided, we aimed to reveal the level of depression, anxiety and sexual dysfunction levels in our patients with breast cancer and the factors affecting this situation. On a voluntary basis the study included 329 patients diagnosed with non-metastatic breast cancer whose surgery was completed. Eight centers were included in the study and ethics committee approval was obtained. Socio-demographic Information Form, Beck Depression and Anxiety Scale, Arizona Sexual Experiences Scale were used in the evaluation. As a result of the scale analysis, 220 (66.9%) patients had minimal and mild depression, 109 (33.1%) patients had moderate and severe depression. Anxiety was detected in 210 (63.8%) and anxiety was severe in 60 (18.2%) patients. The sexual scale score was above 15 in 49 (72.1%) patients. Scale analyzes were summarized in Table 1. According to age, depression was more common in the group over the age of 42 and sexual scores were found to be significantly higher (p:0.008). Anxiety, depression, and sexual scale scores were significantly higher in patients who: underwent mastectomy, were not informed about sexual side effects, were not satisfied with the surgery, were smokers, and had comorbid diabetes. Depression and sexual scores were found to be significantly higher in patients with tumor size greater than 2.5 cm, depression and anxiety scores were found to be significantly higher in node positive patients, and sexual scores were found to be significantly higher in those that had less than high school education. Having or not having family history of cancer, marital status, presence of hypertension, or alcohol use were found to have no effect on the scales. In our study, minimal to severe depression was found in all patients. The incidence of anxiety is also high. Sexual function scores were also found to be high in patients with anxiety and depression, indicating that these patients have sexual dysfunction. These results demonstrate the importance of closely monitoring anxiety and depression levels during oncological treatment in breast cancer patients and to get psychiatric support when necessary. Oncology physicians did not provide the necessary information about sexual side effects to their patients that may be adversely affected both by organ loss and hormonally. Our aim should not only be just focusing on the treatment of cancer, but also to support our patients in their psychological and sexual health for their quality of life. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]