Surgery experience of patients with hematological cancer, individual applications for the symptoms due to chemotherapy and determination of the anxiety levels

INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVE: Hematological cancers, one of the cancer types, are cancer types that start in blood-forming tissues such as bone marrow or cells that make up the immune system. In the study, it was aimed to determine the surgical experiences, anxiety levels and individual practices of patients with hematological cancer regarding the symptoms they experience. MATERIAL AND METHOD: The study was conducted by face-to-face interview method with 74 patients followed in a hematology clinic. "Patient information form" and "Beck Anxiety Scale" were applied to the patients before chemotherapy, and "Questionnaire Form Including the Applications of the Patients for Their Symptoms" after chemotherapy. SPSS 25.0 (Statistical Package for the Social Sciences) package program was used for data analysis. Frequency distribution was used for categorical variables and descriptive statistics were used for numerical variables. In addition, independent samples t-test, one-way analysis of variance, Levene test, Bonferroni, Tamhane's T2 test, chi-square test, Pearson correlation analysis were used. p<0,05 was accepted for significance. RESULTS: While the mean age of the participants was 63,76±15,10, 47,3% were female, 47.3% had a medical diagnosis of lymphoma, 67,6% had surgery, and 32% had received education. The mean Beck Anxiety Scale score was 11,36±7,99, which was considered as mild anxiety. Education and employment status and post-operative education status; hair loss with gender; lack of appetite with working status; It was observed that there was a significant difference between the scale score and working status and the effect of COVID-19 on chemotherapy (p<0,05). There was also a significant difference between the anxiety score of receiving chemotherapy during the COVID-19 pandemic process and the most worrying situation during the chemotherapy process (p<0,05). CONCLUSION: It was found that patients with hematological cancer had low level of information about surgical procedures; they do not have a negative application due to chemotherapy; It was determined that anxiety levels were mild and the pandemic process was effective on anxiety. Key Words: Anxiety, chemotherapy, hematological cancer, individual practice, surgical experience