Assessment of Some Aspects of Psychoemotional Status of Women Ill with Breast Cancer During Negative Epidemiological Environment

Abstract

The paper deals with the issue of complex treatment of patients with various oncological pathologies. General concepts of modern, approved by the Ministry of Health, approaches to the therapy of cancer patients, as well as the concept of an oncological consultation are generalized. Possible disadvantages of existing treatment methods are indicated, including the lack of qualified psychological support for patients. Some authors advocate the need to introduce psychologists and psychoanalysts into the oncoconsilium, since a positive attitude of the patient himself can have a positive effect on the overall outcome of the disease. The aim of the work was an attempt to analyze some aspects of the psychoemotional state of women with breast cancer throughout: from the state of «well-being» to the establishment of a clinical diagnosis, followed by a period of treatment; the study also includes 2 periods of «waves» of new coronavirus infection. The subjects of the study were 150 female patients suffering from breast cancer. All of them were divided into 3 groups of 50 women, depending on age: 20–39 years old, 40–59 years old, 60–80 years old. The study was carried out using a questionnaire (according to a questionnaire specially developed by the authors), as well as using the Zung and Spielberg methods. We studied the level of anxiety of the patients, the level of their depressive states, depending on the «control point» (a total of 5 were allocated, in which the research stages were carried out) of the study and the age of the patients. There were identified 2 main «peaks» of psychoemotional states – the moment of clinical diagnosis and the period of the «first wave» of a new coronavirus infection. It was during these periods that the level of anxiety increased in patients, and depressive states developed. Some interesting features were also identified: for example, if the greatest fears during the «first wave» were caused by fear of Covid-19, then during the «second wave» the problems of financial security and, in fact, treatment were at the fore. The data obtained may be of interest both for doctors who treat cancer patients and healthcare organizers, and for psychologists and psychoanalysts.