Determine symptoms experienced by the patients with advanced cancer and the factors affecting them [İleri evre kanser hastalarının semptom deneyimleri ve etkileyen faktörlerin belirlenmesi]

OBJECTIVES The objective of this study is to determine the symptom distributions of patients with advanced cancer as well as the factors affecting these symptoms. METHODS As a descriptive study, it was carried out in the palliative care and medical oncology clinics of a University located in Izmir between 2011–2012 and 164 cancer patients. Research data were obtained by using Edmonton Symptom Assessment Scale (ESAS) and Karnofsky Performance Scale (KPS). RESULTS 52.4% of the patients participating in the research were male. Total score of ESAS scale was 45.58±12.41. A relationship was found between the symptoms of pain and drowsiness and performance levels of the patients (p0.05). CONCLUSION It was determined that total symptom levels of patients were high, they experienced the pain and fatigue symptoms intensively. © 2015 Turkish Society for Radiation Oncology.