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Annals of Oncology 15:1056-1064, 2004
© 2004 European Society for Medical Oncology

‘Parcours de Femme 2001’: a French opinion survey on overall disease and everyday life management in 1870 women presenting with gynecological or breast cancer and their caregivers

Purpose: The aim of the survey ‘Parcours de Femmes 2001’ was to evaluate the overall management and care of women with female cancers and to determine their needs.

Methods: Women with breast or gynecological cancer who had either received at least 3 months of treatment or had completed treatment <1 year before the study were enrolled in this cross-sectional, observational study.

Results: From February to November 2001, 2839 questionnaires were distributed; 1870 were returned (66% response rate), mainly by breast cancer patients (87%). While 92% of women reported having received information at diagnosis, 34% of relapsed patients complained of lack of information concerning their disease and treatment. Only 18% of patients were included in the treatment decision process and 66% of women obtained complementary information from the media, patients and care professionals. Fatigue was the most severe problem quoted (78% of cases) and was poorly managed by caregivers due to diagnostic and treatment difficulties. Problems relating to family and to affective and socio-professional life were poorly identified and remained largely unmanaged.

Conclusions: Information given to female cancer patients must be improved in relapsed patients, particularly regarding the adverse effects of treatment. Psychosocial management requires a more holistic approach through new channels, together with the coordination of existing structures.

D. Serin1,*, J. M. Dilhuydy2, P. Romestaing3, N. Guiochet4, J. Gledhill5, P. Bret6, J. Savary6 and A. Flinois7

1 Institut Sainte-Catherine, Avignon; 2 Institut Bergonié, Bordeaux; 3 Centre Hospitalier Lyon-Sud, Service Radiothérapie, Pierre-Bénite; 4 Centre Hospitalier Princesse Grâce, Service de Radiothérapie, Monaco; 5 Institut Gustave-Roussy, Direction Soins Infirmiers, Villejuif; 6 Bristol-Myers Squibb, Division Oncologie, Rueil-Malmaison; 7 Harris Medical International, Paris, France

*Correspondence to: Dr D. Serin, Institut Sainte-Catherine, Chemin du Lavarin, BP 846, 84086 Avignon cedex 2, France. Tel: +33-4-90-27-62-63; Fax: +33-4-90-89-62-74; Email: danielserin{at}club-internet.fr

Key words: breast cancer, delivery of patient care, gynecological cancer, patient information, supportive care


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