[Subjective stress of adjuvant chemotherapy in breast cancer patients]

50 patients, suffering from carcinoma of the breast pT1-3 with concomitant metastatic affection of the lymph nodes with no evidence of distant metastases, and who received adjuvant chemotherapy (either CMF od AC/EC) were examined. Somatic and psychic interferences, the feeling of well-being and general condition, as well as a critical estimation of the clinical situation were assessed. Besides nausea and vomiting, and still prior to hair fall out, chemotherapy activated the memory of the carcinoma. 92% of the patients agreeing to chemotherapy described their decision as having been based exclusively on the medical information. Nevertheless, 30% feel insufficiently informed, so the fear of side effects, the waiting period prior to application, and the confrontation with the seriously ill, were described as a negative experience. An optimistic view with respect to improving the prognosis of the disease were correlated with chemotherapy: 74% would agree to a further chemotherapy. Psychic abnormalities, e.g. depressions, could not be shown following chemotherapy when compared to a reference population.