Determination of the level of distresss and perceived social support of the breast cancer patients

Cancer, one of the most important current health problem in the world, is still a disease fearing the people today. One of the effects of cancer in individual is having distresss. Increased distress level in cancer patients is a problem all over the world.The aim of this study, is determination of the level of distress and perceived social support of breast cancer patients and the association between these.This research has been done in Dr. Abdurrahman Yurtarslan Ankara Oncology Education and Research Hosptial, sampling was done from 206 patients applied to the surgery clinics for diagnosis and treatment as breast cancer. Data were collected by using distress termometer, measure of multidimensionally perceived social support, patient information form which is developed by the researcher and analysed by the SPSS 11.0 programme.The level of having distress in the sample group was found to be 70.4 %. Influence of their budget by the cost of treatment (p=0.00; X2=11.21), living alone (p=0.04; X2=3.91), having another health chronic disease other than breast cancer (p=0.00; X2=7.69) are effecting the distress level of patients.The avarage score of multidimensionally perceived social support of the sample group is 66.3 the relationship between the total score of multidimensionally perceived social support and distress termometer was found statistically significant and negative (r=-0.307; p< 0.05). Similarly negative relationship was also found between all subscales of multidimensionally perceived social support scale and the score of distress termometer. There are a negative relationship between the score of family subscale and distress termometer (r=-0.27; p< 0.05). There are a statistically significant negative relationship between the score of friend subscale and distress termometer (r=-0.21; p< 0.05). The relationship between the score of a special person subscale and distress termometer is also negative and statistically significant (r=-0.24; p< 0.05).