emergency-nursing-cancer-nursing-2018-tracks

6 / 18

Page 44
Notes:
conferenceseries.com
Volume 6 General Medicine: Open Access
ISSN: 2327-5146 Emergency Nursing 2018
Cancer Nursing 2018
July 16-17, 2018
July 16-17, 2018 | London, UK
26th CancerNursing&NursePractitionersConference
&
5 th Annual Congress on EmergencyNursing&CriticalCare
JOINT EVENT
Women’s experience of acute skin toxicity following radiation therapy in breast cancer
Eivind Richter Andersen1, Aud Mette Myklebust2, Grethe Eilertsen2 and Siren Eriksen2,3
1Stavanger University Hospital, Norway
2University College of Southeast Norway, Norway
3Vest fold Hospital Trust, Norway
Purpose: Acute skin toxicity is experienced by 70%–100% of patients receiving radiation therapy following breast cancer. Most
studies focus on skin appearances and treatment of such reactions, not the experience. Increased knowledge about patients’
experience will contribute to provide tailored patient care. Thus, the purpose was to investigate patients’ experiences of acute
skin toxicity following radiation therapy for breast cancer.
Patients &Methods: Semi-structured in-depth interviews were conducted with seven women, 2–3 weeks post-treatment. Five
broad areas of inquiry were investigated: 1) experiences from the development of skin reactions; 2) experiences in day-to-day
life; 3) coping strategies; 4) experiences of information; and 5) experiences from the aftercare. The interviews were analyzed in
line with qualitative content analysis.
Results: The main theme: “Not so bad itself, but it comes on top of everything else” was identified, based upon three categories:
1) unique experience of the skin; 2) it is something about the psychological aspect; and 3) experience of information.
Conclusion: Acute skin toxicity following breast cancer treatment may affect many dimensions of patients’ lives. Experiences
are complex, individual, and not necessarily consistent with visible changes of the skin. A holistic approach is necessary to
provide treatment and support according to patients’ individual needs.
Biography
Eivind Richter Andersen works as a Radiation Therapist at Stavanger University Hospital in Norway. He is especially devoted in patient follow-up and radiation induced
side effects, focusing on patient perspective.
Eivind Richter Andersen et al., Gen Med (Los Angeles) 2018, Volume 6
DOI: 10.4172/2327-5146-C2-005