Hope, coping strategies, and their predictors in older prostate and breast cancer patients under radiotherapy: a cross sectional study

Abstract

Abstract Purpose: The aim of this paper was to evaluate the level of hope, coping methods, and the factors affecting them in patients aged 60 years and over who were diagnosed with breast and prostate cancer, who underwent surgery and/or chemotherapy according to the condition of the disease, and who were at the stage of radiotherapy (RT). Method: A total of 66 patients, 37 breast cancer and 29 prostate cancer patients, were included in this cross-sectional study. RT and treatment information of the patients were collected by using the records in the hospital database. The personal information of the participants was also collected through the personal information form and scales [HHI (Heart Hope Index), COPE (Coping Attitudes Assessment Scale), VAS (Visual Analogue Scale)]. Results:The median age of the participants was 65 (min-max: 60-80) years. There was a decrease in the weight and waist circumference of the participants after RT (p<0.05). There was no significant change in the HHI and COPE total scores of the patients before and after RT (p>0.05). When only patients with prostate cancer were studied, the self-help sub-dimension of COPE was found to be lower (p=0.018). Conclusions: It is recommended that patients with prostate cancer be evaluated more sensitively in terms of coping levels during and after radiotherapy. There is an increasing need for further studies in larger populations and cohorts related to this topic in the literature. Implications for Cancer Survivors: Multidimensional evaluations and interventions may be required in terms of hope levels and coping attitudes of cancer patients receiving radiotherapy.