Comfort and anxiety levels of women with early stage breast cancer who receive radiotherapy.

BACKGROUND The aim of this planned research was to determine the comfort and anxiety levels of women with breast cancer receiving radiotherapy. MATERIALS AND METHODS This descriptive type study covered patients that applied to the radiation oncology breast polyclinic of our university hospital between January and May 2011. Patient Identification Form, Radiation Therapy Comfort Questionnaire (RTCQ), Spielberger State Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI) were completed and analysed. RESULTS The mean age of the women who participated in the study was 51.6 ± 10.4 years. Mean scores of women were 3.73 ± 0.31 for RTCQ, 29.1 ± 5.88 for SAI and 37.8±6.91 for TAI. While the comfort levels of the women with breast cancer receiving radiotherapy were moderate, they experienced only low levels of anxiety. CONCLUSIONS By determining the comfort level of the patient before radiotherapy, besides providing comfort in this direction, eliminating/minimizing anxiety and stress will positively affect radiotherapy application. More attention of nurses to this issue is to be recommended.