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Journal of Cancer Research and Therapeutics
Medknow Publications on behalf of the Association of Radiation Oncologists of India (AROI)
ISSN: 0973-1482 EISSN: 0973-1482
Vol. 4, No. 3, 2008, pp. 107-110
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Bioline Code: cr08033
Full paper language: English
Document type: Research Article
Document available free of charge
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Journal of Cancer Research and Therapeutics, Vol. 4, No. 3, 2008, pp. 107-110
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Paradox of wellness and nonadherence among Nigerian women on breast cancer chemotherapy
Adisa, Adewale Oluseye; Lawal, Oladejo Olukayode & Adesunkanmi, Abdul Rasheed Kayode
Abstract
Context: Intentional nonadherence among cancer patients is rare and may occur only when the benefits of treatment are not obvious to the patient.
Aims: To highlight a group of women on chemotherapy for breast cancer who defaulted from their medications because they were improving.
Settings and Design: A study was carried out of the reasons for nonadherence to medications among women receiving chemotherapy for breast cancer at a Nigerian teaching hospital between January 1993 and December 2002.
Materials and Methods: A retrospective review of patients′ records was done.
Results: Of the 188 women who received chemotherapy during the study period, 152 (80.9%) defaulted from treatment at one point or another. The reasons for nonadherence were available in 101 patients. Among these, 18 (18.0%) reported nonadherence because they felt better after commencing chemotherapy. They were aged 31-50 years (Mean = 35.6 (SD3.2)). Six (33.3%) of them presented in AJCC Stage I, and 10 (55.6%) in stage II. Age and disease stage at presentation were found to have significant influence on their reason for nonadherence. Of the nine women on neo-adjuvant chemotherapy, six (66.7%) had complete response but defaulted and five (55.6%) re-presented within a year with metastatic disease. Three of the patients receiving systemic post-surgery chemotherapy presented within a year with local recurrence. Most of the other patients were subsequently lost to follow-up.
Conclusions: Nonadherence due to wellness among breast cancer patients is associated with poor outcome. We propose a detailed prospective study to establish factors that may influence such behavior.
Keywords
Breast cancer, chemotherapy, nonadherence, wellness
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© Copyright 2008 Journal of Cancer Research and Therapeutics. Alternative site location: http://www.cancerjournal.net/
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