Cancer and Empathy - ishim.net

1 83 JISHIM 2006, 5 IntroductionToday, Cancer is one of the most important healthissues. Importance of Cancer is increasing day by daybecause of various reasons such as diagnostic met-hods and new treatments, increasing possibilities ofbenefiting from health services, developments in thetreatments of the other diseases and regarding this li-fe survives are getting longer and more people are di-agnosed as Cancer every day. Cancer is an importantpublic health problem because of high mortality ra-tes. In recent years, developments in Cancer treatmentincrease healing and in some cases get life surviveslonger.

2 Also, life quality of patients is getting betterwith supportive treatments. As a result, we can saythat Cancer is both fatal and a chronicle disease. Be-cause of these characteristics, Cancer is a group of di-seases that can be frequently seen serious medicaland psychosocial problems (1). Disease is a situation that destroys the bio-psychosocial wellness, gives discomfort and distres-ses. Stress of temporary and non-impressive diseasesis also temporary. However, diseases which are lifethreatening, violate the body s integrity and can so-metimes be impossible or very difficult to treat arenamed as difficult disease both in material and mo-ral aspects (2).

3 Cancer is in this group of disease. Be-cause of this, to evaluate Cancer patient from the bio-psychosocial point of view and to establish qualifiedrelation with patient based on Empathy are quite im-portant in adaptation of diagnosis and treatment sta-ges and copying with Cancer . Physicians determine the Cancer as a path physi-ologic event, which is characterized with a prolifera-tion of malign neoplastic cells without control. Ne-vertheless, many patients perceptions are consisted ofsomeone s history around them and social Cancer cul-ture and limited with samples (3).

4 Man has a lot ofreasons to escape from his fears with being aware ofprotecting ways from Cancer , increasing early diagno-sis and treatment alternatives. Although, it is possibleto cure some Cancer types or to live with this disease,lots of people comprehend the word Cancer similarto death . Also, Cancer causes multiple psychologi-cal problems. These multiple problems affect cancerpatient, family and medical staff (4). Factors that af-fect patient from psychological view such as appe-arance some problems at the time of illness progressor treatment, organ dysfunctions, treatment cost or si-de effects, fear from operations are sensitive points ofpatient-physician relationship in Cancer cases.

5 Patient-Physician CommunicationMedical practice is also emphasized as a commu-nication art. In this practice, patient expects fromhis/her physician to establish a meaningful relations-hip (5). In spite of technology and scientific improve-ments, communication is the heart of clinical practi-ces. Because,1. The quality of relationship between patient andphysician affects the patient s satisfaction (6).2. It is accepted that 70% of diagnosis is done after agood patient-physician communication (7). Cancer and Empathy Elif ATICI MD, PhD* * Uludag University, Faculty of Medicine, Deontology Department Bursa-TURKEYe-mail: of relation between patient and physician is important in for diseases such as Cancer , which are life-threatening, violatethe body s integrity and can sometimes be impossible or very difficult to treat.

6 Empathy is regarded as a key professional skill, nec-essary for both good medical treatment and patient-physician relationship. In this paper, the importance of empathic approach in therelationship between Cancer patient and physician and ethical aspects of this are mentioned. Key Words: Cancer , Empathy , Patient-Physician Relationship, It increases the possibility of obtaining positiveresults from medical skill takes its place in the profes-sional attitude. Following expressions are possiblewith this attitude:1.

7 To establish a relationship between patient andphysician that based on trust (9)2. To understand the patient s situation (10)3. To evaluate patient from bio-psychosocial approach4. To obtain sufficient and proper information aboutpatient and disease (11)5. To give sufficient and proper information to thepatient about his/her situation, treatment alternati-ves, risks and benefits (11)6. To increase the effect of physician in patient care(10)7. To increase patient satisfaction (12) 8. To improve patient s quality of life (13)9.

8 To give bad cope with the reluctance to the treatment share ethical issues with patient and support the harmony between patient andphysician with the sense of understanding (10). Empathy is accepted as the most effective andreliable application form of communication (14). It isthe action of understanding, being aware of, beingsensitive to, and vicariously experiencing the fee-lings, thoughts, and experience of another (15). Em-pathic communication is very important in diseases,which patient is dependent to the others; especially incancer that patient has a sense of indefiniteness.

9 So,patient participation in patient-physician relationshipis supported by emphatic is accepted as a key skill for a good tre-atment and a good patient-physician relationship. So-me studies show that patients rarely and spontane-ously express their feelings (16, 17). However, mostof the Cancer patients are in an emotional stress inten-sively related to the disease and side effects of thecancer treatment (18, 19). We can show three diffe-rent reasons about this originate from the patient: Age, sex, edu-cational level, socio-cultural characteristics, per-sonality, psychological status of the patient are af-fected patient s reactions and way of expressionof his/her feelings (20, 21).

10 Originate from the illness: Addition tothe physical difficulties, disease damage person sadaptation to life, cause to appear psychologicaland socioeconomic problems and these are dama-ged the balance of life (22). Disease causes a sen-se of indefiniteness and this can affects patient sfeelings (23). It can be hard to adaptation to thenew conditions for the patient and appearance ofabnormal emotion, thought and behavior can beseen (24). Fear, anxiety and indefiniteness can bediminished individual s skill of controlling andcopying with Cancer .