Perception about Cancer and External Radiation Therapy in Cancer Patients or Relatives

Abstract

Objective: To evaluate perception of cancer patients or their relatives about cancer and radiation therapy. The factors which may be associated with perception such as level of education and information receiving previously about treatment of cancer were also assessed.

Method: This was a prospective descriptive study. The questionnaire was administered to 100 cancer patients who received treatment at Radiation Oncology Unit between June 2013 and October 2013 or relatives. The recorded data were age, gender, level of education, occupation, income per month, type of cancer, prior treatment, previous information received about cancer treatment, and 11 questions regarding the perception of cancer and radiation therapy.

Results: Of the 100 participants, 76 were cancer patients and the rests were their relatives. More than one-third of participants were unemployed with no income. The three most common types of cancer were breast cancer, head and neck cancer and lung cancer. The majority of patients (83%) had received previous treatment, i.e., surgery in 69% and chemotherapy in 47%. Sixty-three percent of participants had never received information about cancer and radiation therapy. The most common source of information were from other cancer patients who were familiar with participants. The most common misconception was “Cancer patients should eat only vegetable” (41%), which was associated previous received information with odds ratio (OR) of 3.3 (95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.3-8.3; p=0.01) compared with participants who had never received any previous information. Participants with education level lower than primary school had given wrong answers with OR of 5.9 (95%CI = 1.2-28.2; p=0.01) for statements of “Cancer is contagious” and OR of 2.9 (95% CI = 1.2-7.2; p=0.02) for statement of “Participants who received radiation therapy would have alopecia”, respectively.

Conclusion: Cancer patients or relatives had high level of misconception regarding cancer and radiation therapy. The most common issue of misunderstanding is about food. Level of education and prior receiving information had effects on their perception.