EFFECT OF RELAXATION EXERCISE ON FATIGUE, DEPRESSION AND LEVEL OF QUALITY OF LIFE IN DIAGNOSED WITH BREAST AND COLORECTAL CANCER WITHIN PATIENTS UNDER ADJUVANT CHEMOTHERAPY

Abstract

The present study was conducted to determine the effect of relaxation exercise on fatigue, depression and level of quality of life in patients diagnosed with breast cancer and colorectal cancer who were under adjuvant chemotherapy. Study was conducted at Chemotherapy Unit of M. Kemal Dedeman Oncology Hospital at Erciyes University. Study sample was composed of 70 volunteer patients diagnosed with breast cancer and colorectal cancer, who were taking adjuvant chemotherapy for the first time and who were being planned to take ambulatory adjuvant chemotherapy lasting at least 3 cures. Study group was applied relaxation exercise. Effect of the exercise was evaluated by measurement instruments prior to every chemotherapy cure and on the 7th day of ending cure being measured for 6 different times during 3 cures. Data were collected with questionnaire form, Piper Fatigue Scale, Beck Depression Scale and EORTC QLQ C-30 Quality of Life Scale. Fatigue level of the study group patients was high compared with controls and by measurements and inter group comparisons it was found that fatigue scores in study group decreased while increased in control group. Depression scores were found to be lower in study group and higher in control group. Quality of life increased in study group patients who were applied relaxation exercise. Depression and fatigue scores were positively correlated and it was found that while depression increased, fatigue increased and quality of life was negatively affected. Lactic acid level which is thought to be one of the physical parameters of fatigue was lower in study group patients who were applied relaxation exercise compared to controls. Consequently, it was recommended to regularly evaluate fatigue, depression and quality of life levels of subjects diagnosed with cancer within general care, to conduct further clinical trials to emerge the efficiency of relaxation exercises, to use devices like I-pod for applying relaxation exercises during chemotherapy, to integrate relaxation exercises into routines at chemotherapy units.