[An experience nursing an uncertain patient with recurrent cervical cancer]

This article describes an experience nursing a patient with recurrent cervical cancer. As a result of urinary leakage after radical surgery, the patient underwent a second anterior exenteration and ileo-conduit operation while experiencing emotional uncertainty. The nursing care involved a combination of direct care, home visits, telephone and OPD follow-up. Data collection and analysis followed via observation, conversation and the recording of behavioral processes. Nursing measures were taken to address the sense of threat induced by uncertainty and anticipatory grieving. We found the same sense of uncertainty that research has found to affect breast cancer patients, and found that it is similarly significantly higher pre-operation than post-operation. Besides providing information and supportive encouragement, nursing staff should evaluate the degree of uncertainty and the sources of support available to the patient, as well as improving nursing guidance for self-care. The support of family members, especially the spouse, is a form of positive feedback which may significantly reduce the degree of uncertainty.