Investigation of symptom status, body perception, symptoms of anxiety and depression in patients with breast cancer receiving paclitaxel

The purpose of this descriptive and prospective study was to investigate symptom status, body perception, the symptoms of anxiety and depression in patients with breast cancer receiving paclitaxel regimen for the first time. The study was conducted in three different hospitals between July 29, 2019-June 15, 2020 with 84 patients with breast cancer. Patients receiving paclitaxel regimen once a week for a total of 12 weeks were followed prospectively in this study. Chemotherapy Symptom Assessment Scale (C-SAS), Body Perception Scale (BPS) and Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) were applied at before the paclitaxel regimen cycle started (T₁), at the first week (end of cycle 1-T₂), at the fourth week (end of cycle 4-T₃), at the eighth week (end of cycle 8-T₄) and at the twelfth week (end of cycle 12-T₅) at 5 time points in total. Data were evaluated by using number, percentage, mean, Cochran Q Test, Friedman Test, Wilcoxon Test and Spearman's correlation tests. Frequency of needling and numbness in the hands and feet, pain, skin or nail changes statistically significantly increased (p <0.05) in the assessment points T₂, T₃, T₄ and T₅ compared to the T₁ during the paclitaxel regimen. The mean scores of BPS in patients statistically significantly decreased at T₂, T₄ and T₅ (p <0.001). The mean scores of the anxiety subscale of the HADS scale decreased at T2, T3 and T4 assessments (p<0.001) and the mean score of the depression subscale statistically significantly increased at T3, T4 and T5 assessments (p<0.001). A negative correlation was found between the BPS and HADS total scores (p>0.05). Based on the assessments according to the cures, symptom status and depression level increased, and body perception and anxiety levels decreased in breast cancer patients. In this context, oncology nurses should provide consultation and training related to effective symptom management, the changes in body perception and the alleviation of the symptoms of anxiety and depression in breast cancer patients receiving adjuvant paclitaxel.