Relationship between falling risk and quality of life in adult cancer patients

The aim of this study is to evaluate the risk of falls of adult cancer patients in the post-cancer treatment stage and to investigate the relationship between the risk of falls and the quality of life. A total of 54 adult cancer patients aged between 18-65 years with solid tumor who were diagnosed by oncologist were included in the study. Balance assessment of patients with Berg Balance Scale (BDS), foot base sensation light touch and two point discrimination in two parts, the risk of falling with the Tinetti Fall Activity Scale (TFAS), fatigue intensity with the Fatigue Severity Scale (FSS), Quality of Life European Cancer Treatment Research Organization Quality of Life Questionnaire - The lower extremity muscle strength was evaluated manually with Jamar hand dynamometer. As a result of the evaluations; It was found that cancer patients treated with cancer had a fall risk (24.1%) and the highest number of chemotherapy + radiotherapy + surgery group had a history of fall. In the relationship between quality of life and risk of falling; functional function from the lower ranks of the quality of life (r = -0,386, p = 0,000), functional function (r = -0,386, p = 0,000), cognitive function (r = -0,312, p = 0.026) and functional score (r = -0,496, p = 0,000) and symptom scale associated with fatigue (r = 0.392, p = 0.04), pain (r = 0.283, p = 0.044) and symptom score (r = 0.282, p = 0.45). It was found that the feeling of fatigue, female gender, being 50 years of age and over, loss of balance and decreased light touch in heel increased the risk of falling in patients. As a result of our study, it was determined that there was a risk of falling in cancer patients treated with cancer and that the decrease affected the quality of life negatively. In order to prevent injuries and to improve quality of life, it is necessary to prevent falls in cancer patients. Keywords: cancer, risk of falling, quality of life, fatigue