Experience of Pancreatic Cancer Patients Undergoing
Chemotherapy in an Outpatient Department
Mayumi Okuda1)，Mayumi Niitani2)，Mika Miyashita2)，Yasumi Shigita1)，
Yoshinori Yamashita3)，Kiyomi Taniyama4)
1) Nursing Department,NHO Kure Medical Center and Chugoku Cancer Center, Kure, Japan
2) Hiroshima University Graduate School of Biomedical and Health Sciences,Hiroshima,Japan
3) Institute for Clinical Research, NHO Kure Medical Center and Chugoku Cancer Center, Kure, Japan
4) President , NHO Kure Medical Center and Chugoku Cancer Center, Kure, Japan

Introduction2) At diagnosis
Introduction
Theirexperiences
included
descriptionsofAbout eighty percent of pancreatic cancer patients『Facedwithanunexpecteddiagnosis』,『Facedtheare found to have inoperable cancer, and as such,diagnosis
calmly』,『Familywasshocked』,『Regret』,『Notis a disease with a very poor prognosis. Inoperable
havingknowledge
about
thedisease』,『Lookingfor
pancreatic cancer patients undergo chemotherapy andinformation
aboutdiseaseandtreatment』,『Beingthe place of the treatment is shifting from hospital toconscious
aboutdeath』(3of8),『Beingataloss』(1of8)
outpatient facilities. To maintain the best possible QOLatdiagnosis.
during this time, it is important to address nursing carefor palliative pain management.
3) During treatment
main category
category
The objective of this study is to clarify experiences of
Palliative of symptoms from the effect of treatment (5)inoperable pancreatic cancer patients undergoing
Symptoms of cancer and chemotherapy (8)Symptoms ofSymptoms of cancer (3)chemotherapy in an outpatient department.
cancer andMethods
1. Subject
Subjects were inoperable pancreatic cancer patients
who were undergoing chemotherapy in an outpatient
department of two selected hospitals in Hiroshima.

2. Items of data Results
1) Experience
Subjects about ways to spend time, their feelings andthinking every day2) Population statistical variable ： age, sex
3. Method of collecting data
A person doing research interviewd for subjects.
The interviews were done once or twice per one subject.
4. Analysis
Content analysis was done about subject’s experiences.
Results
1. Summary of subjects
The subjects were eight, five women and three men.
Their average age was 69.5 years old, from 50 to 80.

treatment

Side effect of chemotherapy (8)Side effect of narcotic analgesics (1)Pain from symptoms of cancer and treatment (4)Coping withCoping with physical pain of cancer and treatment (7)symptoms ofcancer andCopingwithpsychological
painofcancerandtreatment(3)
treatment
Spending usual daily life (6)Spending healthy daily life (2)Life with
Difficulty of daily life from disease and treatment (4)cancerSpending daily life with physical symptoms (4)Confusion life coexisting with cancer and diabetes (5)Financial burden (7)Realizing for being cancer from having painful symptom (6)Thinking about the disease calmly (4)Wishing to not be looked as a sick person (4)Attitude and Hoping for effect on the treatment (3)thinking about Thinking about the condition and effect on the treatment from symptoms
cancer and and results of the examination (4)treatment Thinking about significances of living and treating (4)Feeling anxiety for the disease (3)Living with feeling a period of life (5)Foreseeing about worsening of the condition in the future (3)Trust in their doctor (6)Support from Support of family (7)the people Consideration for family (4)around them Support from the people around them (5)Support from same sick persons (2)Conclusion
Inoperable pancreatic cancer patients undergoing
chemotherapy in outpatient department lived with
2. Patient’s experiences
cancer supported by the people around them, coped1) Prior to diagnosis
with having symptoms of cancer and treatment, andTheir experiences included descriptions of『The symptom of cancer emerged』 such as “Becoming evolved in their attitude and thinking about cancer andtaken diabetes suddenly”(2 of 8), “Decreasing his weight treatment.
rapidly”(4 of 8), 『Being pointed out as something unusual Nurses have to communicate intentionally atnecessary time supporting patient, and understandfrom the people around them』,『Coping with thesymptoms by oneself』,『The disease was difficult to find patient’s need , and support patient’s autonomy
respectfully cooperating any specialists.
out』(4 of 8) prior to diagnosis.