Information Possessed by Women before and after Breast Surgery on Account of Cancer

Overview

Using a questionnaire with nine questions the authors asked 249 women operated in the past on account of breast cancer about their experience with self-examination, the regularity of medical examinations, information provided by the doctor during examination and treatment. They talked about the formal side of the doctor´s information and on their life after completion of anti-tumorous treatment. They expressed their views on the newly prepared group of five very brief health informations - leaflets elaborated for consecutive stages of diagnosis and treatment of breast cancer. From the results it may be concluded: knowledge of women as regards cause, course and treatment of cancer is limited. The awareness that people have to take a certain amount of responsibility for their own health is not frequent. Collaboration of patients with hospital doctors had a low standard. The efforts of doctors as regards participating in psychosocial support of these women was slight. This gap will have to be filled in future by voluntary humanitarian oncological organisations. The road to humanisation of medicine will still be long.

Key words:
breast cancer - breast surgery - information possessed by the patient - doctor-patient relationship.