NEEDS AND CONCERNS OF BREAST CANCER PATIENTS -- SGH EXPERIENCE.

In Singapore, breast cancer is the leading cancer among other cancers in women. Being a multicultural society, the needs, concerns and coping strategies of women with breast cancer vary compared to women in other parts of the world. Therefore this study aims to identify the needs and concern of local women with breast cancer over the period of their illness. One hundred women newly diagnosed with breast cancer were recruited into the study. Ninety two of them agreed to the first interview (preoperative), 83 proceeded to the second interview (third month after surgery and undergoing treatment) and 62 completed the third Interview (9 month after surgery and had completed treatment). At the first interview, 68 patients were scheduled for simple mastectomy axillary clearance (SMAC) and 24 patients were for wide excision axillary clearance (WEAC). Fifty one percent of them were concerned about disease spread, outcome of surgery and postoperative recovery with no statistical significance between the 2 groups. Eleven percent of them said that they needed educational support on wound care and rehabilitation and further information on recovery. At the second interview, 65 patients were from the SMAC group while 18 patients were from the WEAC group. Fifty percent of them said that their main support (family support) were their spouses and children. For professional support, 63% of them identified the Breast Care Nurse and the clinic nurses as their main source of educational and emotional support. Forty six percent specified the need for more information on understanding adjuvant therapy and its side effects. At the third interview, 44 patients were from the SMAC group and 18 from the WEAC group. Those who had received adjuvant treatment made up 27.9% while 46% were on no treatment or only on 5-year oral Tamoxifen. Forty seven percent were relieved that the treatment was over, 40% were worried about recurrence after treatment and 60% of them wanted continual support and education on prevention of disease towards achieving total recovery. The study had shown that there was a need for patient education and emotional support during the treatment period, especially during chemotherapy and radiotherapy. During the initial counselling, many patients were unable to specify their concerns and needs or the need for continual support. The results also identified the specific areas regarding patient information, education and support that needed further exploration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]