Psychiatry Research EG

Diagnosis of cancer is widely feared and can have serious social, personal, and economic consequences. It is a stressful life event that can cause adverse physical and psychological changes [1].Many cancer patients know little about radiation therapy before treatment [2]. They believe that they will lose hair all over the body, although one area is being treated. In addition, they are apprehensive about nausea, skin effects, loss of energy and appetite and, depending on site treated, may be concerned about dysphagia, cough, diarrhea, urinary frequency, or other problems [3]. Radiotherapy can cause both physical symptoms such as diarrhea, bleeding nausea, vomiting, weight loss, mucosities, alteration in taste, and aversion to food, and emotional symptoms such as apprehension, anxiety, depression, and social withdrawal [4]. In addition, late physical effects include intestinal strictures, fistulae, and malabsorption [3]. It has been suggested that both physical and emotional symptoms associated with radiotherapy may be influenced by psychological factors and interventions [5]. Psychotherapy succeeded in reducing the levels of emotional and physical symptoms in patients undergoing radiotherapy [4].