How Morale Affects The Healing Process in Breast Cancer

"One evening, my eyelashes stayed in my hand, " Eyelash-free eye looks very bad "," I cried a lot when my eyelashes fell out ","You don't want to go out with me anymore, do you? " These sentences made by many breast cancer patients reflect significantly what women experience during the treatment process. In addition to physical problems, cancer patients also face mental and social problems due to the side effects of disease or treatment.

For cancer treatment to be fully successful, a holistic approach to treating the patient is important, not the disease. Working on complementary approaches in cancer treatment, Prof. Dr. Fatih Aydoğan gave important information about the subject.

The aim is to provide patients with full physical, mental and social well-being.

Cancer treatment consists of a multidisciplinary approach formed by many branches. Surgical Oncology, Medical Oncology, Radiation Oncology and Plastic Surgery, which are the main treatment branches, mostly treat the physical dimension of the disease. In addition to physical problems, cancer patients also face mental and social problems due to the side effects of disease or treatment. More focused supportive treatments for solving mental and social problems are called "complementary approaches". The purpose of complementary approaches is to provide patients with full physical, mental and social well-being.

Hair and eyebrow loss can affect patients as much as removal of the breast

Hair loss due to drugs used in a significant part of patients receiving chemotherapy is observed. Apart from hair, other hairs such as eyebrows and eyelashes may also fall out in the body. Hair loss usually starts after 2-3 weeks and begins to grow again after 3-4 weeks after the end of treatment. Hair and eyebrow loss is one of the side effects that affect patients the most during the treatment process. In a study, some patients stated that eyebrow shedding affected them more than surgical removal of the breast. Since the eyebrows are more visible, their effect may be more in some women.

A holistic approach to treating the patient is required

For cancer treatment to be fully successful, a holistic approach to treating the patient is important, not the disease. Apart from the main branches, we also provide support to our patients by Dermatology & Cosmetic Dermatology, Clinical Psychology, Diet and Nutrition, and Gynaecology and Obstetrics.

Staying beautiful and well-groomed in breast cancer provides motivation

The Department of Dermatology and Cosmetic Dermatology supports treatment-related changes in the skin, hair and eyebrows of patients. For this purpose, microblading application for eyebrow loss, recommendations about skin changes before treatment, information about cosmetic products that can be used during treatment, advice and treatment support for hair loss, information about dermo cosmetic applications after treatment are provided.

In the Department of Clinical Psychology; interviews and sessions are held to support the mental and social problems experienced by the patients.

In the Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology; In addition to planning for the protection of fertility in women cancers diagnosed at a young age, counselling and information on sexual dysfunctions are provided.

Diet and Nutrition Department offers dietary and nutritional support as well as exercise recommendations during and after treatment.

One in every 6 breast cancer patients in Turkey in their 20s and 30s

The age of incidence of breast cancer in Turkey is 10 years earlier than the average of Europe and America. 16-17% of the patients diagnosed with breast cancer are under the age of 40. In other words, it is seen that one of our 6 patients is in their 20s and 30s. The younger age patient group is more affected by treatment-related hair changes. We asked this age group of patients who had been treated before what they did in terms of problems such as hair, eyebrows and eyelash loss. In the answers we received, we found that patients mostly found temporary solutions such as bonnets, hats and headscarves for hair loss from these problems. We found that they did not receive professional help except for a few patients who used pens and herbal medicines for eyebrow loss.

The study was presented at the meeting of the MASCC in Spain.

Our study on the subject was presented as an announcement by Specialist Dr. Emine Erkan at the annual meeting of MASCC held in Spain this year. Assoc. The summary of our research, in which Dr. Kezban Nur Pilancı and Dr. Sevim Şuekinci were among the researchers, was published in the journal "Supportive Care in Cancer".

MASCC is a union formed by the participants from 70 countries with the explicit name "The Multinational Association of Supportive Care in Cancer". MASCC is working on supportive treatments for cancer patients and his motto is: “Supportive treatments can provide excellent cancer care.”

Our conclusion that patients did not receive professional support for treatment-related dermatological problems showed the importance of the "Complementary Approaches Program" we initiated for cancer patients. With the support provided in this program, patients can go through the treatment process more easily.

Prepared by the Medical Editorial Board. Our health library contents have been prepared for informational purposes only and with the scientific content on the registration date. For all your questions, concerns, diagnosis or treatment about your health, please consult your doctor or health institution.