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  • Article
    Citation - WoS: 13
    The Role of Patient Awareness and Knowledge in Developing Secondary Lymphedema After Breast and Gynecologic Cancer Surgery
    (Mary Ann Liebert, inc, 2020) Pervane Vural, Secil; Ayhan, Fikriye Figen; Soran, Atilla
    Background:This study aimed to compare the effects of awareness and knowledge on demographic and clinical factors in patients with breast cancer-related lymphedema (BCRL) and gynecologic cancer-related lymphedema (GCRL) in the oncologic rehabilitation setting. Methods and Results:A total of 506 female patients with upper or lower extremity lymphedema, were evaluated for lymphedema education in their postoperative period. Only 74 survivors (25%) with BCRL and 34 survivors (16.83%) with GCRL reported that they had received information about lymphedema by physicians/primary health care providers. In breast cancer survivors, the time of diagnostic delay for lymphedema was shorter in the informed group (p < 0.001), and there was a higher rate of cellulite attacks in uninformed patients (p = 0.021). Duration between surgery and lymphedema was longer and duration of diagnostic delay for lymphedema was shorter in the informed group than uninformed group in gynecologic cancer survivors (p = 0.019,p < 0.001). There was a higher rate of cellulite history in the uninformed patients than informed patients in gynecologic cancer survivors (p < 0.001). In gynecologic cancer survivors who were educated about lymphedema were at an earlier stage than noneducated patients (p = 0.024). Conclusion:The rate of awareness about lymphedema among patients with a history of surgery for gynecologic malignancies is lower compared with those for breast cancer. In female cancer survivors, awareness and knowledge about lymphedema may lead to a later onset of lymphedema, lower lymphedema grades, and fewer infection.
  • Article
    Citation - WoS: 1
    Citation - Scopus: 1
    Ovarian Cancer Awareness of Women in Turkey: a Cross-Sectional Study
    (Wiley, 2024) Ugurlu, Meltem; Aydin, Ruveyde; Sahan, Fatma Uslu; Vural, Gulsen
    PurposeEarly diagnosis of ovarian cancer (OC) increases survival rates; however, due to low awareness levels, women may be diagnosed with OC at the advanced stage. The aim of this cross-sectional study is to reveal the OC awareness of Turkish women and affecting factors.MethodsParticipants were invited to study via social media tools between February-June 2022. Data was collected with Personal Information Form and the "OC Awareness Scale" from 446 women.Results81% of the participants did not recall OC symptoms, 80.8% recognized OC risk factors. The most frequently recalled and recognized OC symptom is pelvic pain (19.8%; 55.8%, respectively). The most frequently recalled and recognized OC risk factors were smoking (43.1%, 67.9%, respectively) and family history (39%, 58.7%, respectively). 2% of the participants felt very confident in recognizing the signs, 72.9% would seek help within 1-2 days when they recognized the signs of OC.ConclusionsThe awareness of OC was higher among women who had advanced age, higher education, family history and were in menopause. Turkish women have low level of awareness and knowledge about OC symptoms and risk factors. There is an urgent need for an OC awareness campaign that takes into account the socio-demographic characteristics of women. The results of the study may also guide strategies to prevent OC.