<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?><Articles><Article><id>290</id><JournalTitle>ASSESS THE THERAPY RELATED SYMPTOMS AND SELF CARE AMONG PATIENTS WITH CANCER IN A TERTIARY CARE HOSPITAL, KOCHI.</JournalTitle><Abstract>A descriptive study was done to identify the therapy related symptoms, severity of symptoms, self care management
of therapy related symptoms among patients with cancer. Using convenience sampling technique 100 subjects with breast
cancer, lung cancer and hematological cancer were selected from medical oncology, radiation oncology outpatient
departments and chemotherapy day care unit of Amrita Institute of Medical Sciences (AIMS), Kochi. A standardized tool
(checklist for reporting symptoms and side effects) developed by Phoebe D Williams was used to collect data. The results
revealed that most frequently reported symptoms were taste changes (92%), fatigue (89%), decreased appetite (78%),
difficulty in sleeping (78%), loss of memory (75%), vomiting (72%) and hair loss (71%). Statistically significant association
was found between age in years and pain, age in years and loss of hearing, education and loss of memory, occupation and
chest pain, type of cancer and chest pain (p<0.05). Highly significant association was found between age in years and
shortness of breath, type of cancer and shortness of breath (p<0.01). 71 (71%) of the subjects reported that fatigue was a very
severity producing symptom. For fatigue, diet was used as a self care measure by 60% of patients. The severity of 80% of
patients regarding taste changes ranged from moderate to severe, 68% were not using any self care measure for taste changes.
Regarding decreased appetite, worst severity was reported by 50% of the subjects. For decreased appetite, 71% were
following balanced diet as a self care measure.</Abstract><Email>sheenanr1989@gmail.com</Email><articletype>Research</articletype><volume>5</volume><issue>8</issue><year>2015</year><keyword>Therapy related symptoms, Severity of symptoms,Self care,Breast cancer,Lung cancer,Hematological Cancer</keyword><AUTHORS>Shenna NR,Deepu Prasad</AUTHORS><afflication>Student MSc(n) , Amritha College of Nurshing, Amritha Vishwa Vidyapeetham, Health Science Campus, ,Ernakulam, Kerala, India,Lecturer MSc(N), Amritha College of Nurshing, Amritha Vishwa Vidyapeetham, Health Science Campus, ,Ernakulam, Kerala, India</afflication></Article></Articles>