ABSTRACT
Introduction: Following the diagnosis and treatment of breast cancer, women may experience some emotions such as anxiety, uncertainty, andhopelessness, and these experiences may vary from person to person. Many patients, along with conventional treatments, can resort to traditional methods to support the treatment, prevent recurrence of cancer, cope with the side effects of the treatment, and strengthen physically and mentally. Aims: The study was aimed at determining the relationship between hopelessness level and use of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) methods in women with breast cancer. Materials and Methods: In this descriptive and cross-sectional study, 336 women with breast cancer who presented to the mammography unit were contacted. Among the CAM methods used, herbal treatment methods rank first. Of the reasons, women prefer these methods; “CAM provides psychological comfort” takes the first place. Results: The mean scores obtained from the Beck Hopelessness Scale by the women who used and who did not use CAM were 5.45 ± 5.18 and 4.44 ± 4.10, respectively. The difference between the two groups was statistically significant (P < 0.05). Conclusion: In conclusion, women with breast cancer may attempt to use CAM due to hopelessness. Therefore, in the course of medical treatment of patients, CAM practices should be questioned, they should be provided counseling and if necessary, referred for psychological support
ABSTRACT
Breast self examination (BSE), screening mammography and Pap smear screening can significantly reduce mortality from breast and cervical cancer. In an effort to understand the factors that influence BSE, mammography, and Pap smear behavior of woman academicians, we here explored the relation between health promotion life-style and women's cancer screening practice. A total of 750 woman academicians working in a university were enrolled, 350 of them responding to the survey. The study instruments used were the Health Promotion Life-Style Profile (HPLP) scale and a questionnaire of demographic data. There was a significant relationship between age-group, marital status, presence of cancer in the family, history of cervical erosion and doing BSE, having mammography and a Pap smear. Additionally, both the general mean and nearly all domains of HPLP were significantly related to BSE, mammography, and Pap smear behavior. This study demonstrated strong relationships between breast and cervical cancer screening behavior and health promoting lifestyle in this subgroup of women, making an important contribution to understanding the factors influencing women's health behavior.
ABSTRACT
During the past thousands of years, food systems, and thus human diets, have been and are shaped by climate, terrain, seasons, location, culture, and technology. In this context, many types of diet patterns have emerged. Nowadays, numerous epidemiological studies are being conducted in many countries in order to find relationships between empirically identified dietary factors and the occurrence of illnesses. Today, some dietary patterns are described as healthy eating models while others are generally qualified as unhealthy.