title: Changes in lifestyle upon diagnosis of cancer or other chronic illnesses: A Turkish Oncology Group study.
abstract: Cancer, like other chronic illnesses, changes the patients' way of living significantly. Although some may think, for instance, that religiousness would increase with the diagnosis of cancer, no previous studies have been performed in the Turkish society to confirm this. We, as the Turkish Oncology Group, conducted a survey in seven different oncology centres, representing a large majority of Turkey, to investigate how patients' lifestyles changed following a cancer diagnosis; we used dialysis patients as a chronic illness control group. The study findings showed how changes in spiritual practices are completely in line with what is observed in other chronic illnesses. These findings may help to address cancer patients' needs and facilitate resource allocation accordingly.
authors.affiliation: 1 Marmara University, Turkey.
authors.forename: Nazim Serdar
authors.initials: NS
authors.lastname: Turhal
authors.affiliation: 1 Marmara University, Turkey.
authors.forename: Figen
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Akinci
authors.affiliation: 2 Karadeniz Technical University, Turkey.
authors.forename: Yasemin
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Haciabdullahoglu
authors.affiliation: 3 Meram University, Turkey.
authors.forename: Makbule
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Dolmaci
authors.affiliation: 4 Cumhuriyet University, Turkey.
authors.forename: Ayse
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sari
authors.affiliation: 5 Gazi University, Turkey.
authors.forename: Nermin
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Gurhan
authors.affiliation: 6 Akdeniz University, Turkey.
authors.forename: Aylin
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Mutlu
authors.affiliation: 2 Karadeniz Technical University, Turkey.
authors.forename: Feyyaz
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Ozdemir
authors.affiliation: 3 Meram University, Turkey.
authors.forename: Mehmet
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Artac
authors.affiliation: 7 Hacettepe University, Turkey.
authors.forename: Saadettin
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kilickap
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002908:Chronic Disease / Q000523:psychology*; D003956:Dialysis; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008019:Life Style; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000523:psychology*; D029181:Spirituality; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014421:Turkey
keywords: cancer; chronic illness; lifestyle; religion; spirituality