PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to describe and understand the meaning of cancer survivors' life experience after being discharged from the primary cancer treatment. METHODS: Data were collected through a tape-recorded in-depth interview from six participants living in Gyeonggi province from September 2007 to January 2008. The analysis of the data was made through the phenomenological analytic method suggested by Colaizzi. RESULTS: Thirteen themes regarding the survivors' life experience were found. From these thirteen themes, six major theme were emerged. The six major theme included 'keeping his/her mind comfortable', 'going ahead with new hope', 'accepting for his/her existing burden', 'maintaining a good health for a new life', 'improving the strength and relationship among the family member', and 'being faithful to his/her religion'. CONCLUSIONS: The results of this study would help oncology nurses to understand the cancer survivors' life and to develop a quality of life improvement program for physical, psychosocial, and spiritual aspects of nursing.
Humans ; Life Change Events ; Qualitative Research ; Quality of Life ; Survivors

PURPOSE: This study was designed to investigate the body-image and quality of life in breast cancer patients with mastectomy. METHODS: Data were obtained by self-reported questionaries from 110 patients undergone mastectomy from August 1 to 31, 2007. And data were analyzed using SPSS/PC WIN 12.0 program and frequency, percentage, mean, minimum, maximum, t-test, ANOVA, Scheffe test, Pearson's Correlation Coefficient were used. The results of the study were as follows; 1) Mean of Body image of the subjects was 52.54+/-6.67 (range of scale; 17 to 85). Mean of quality of life was 118.01+/-34.37 (range of scale; 0 to 10). 2) There was no significant difference with the score of body image by demographic and disease-related characteristics of subjects. 3) There was significant difference with the score of quality of life by the work type and economic status of subjects. 4) Relationship between body image and quality of life showed moderately strong positive correlation (r=0.408, p<0.0001). CONCLUSION: Mean of body image and of quality of life in mastectomy patients were moderate. Relationship between body image and quality of life showed moderately strong positive correlation. Therefore, for improving the quality of life, it is needed to improve body image in breast cancer patients with mastectomy.
Body Image ; Breast Neoplasms ; Female ; Humans ; Mastectomy ; Quality of Life

PURPOSE: This study was to compare quality of life, sexual function, and depression between a group with sexually active women and the other with sexually inactive women who undertaken mastectomy. METHODS: Participants were 106 breast cancer patients who had spouse and participated in self-help group in Gwangju, Korea. The questionnaires were consisted of Quality of Life Index-Cancer Version (Q.L.I.-C), self-rating depression scale, and Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI). Data were analyzed using the SPSS Win 14.0 K+ for descriptive statistics, t-test, ANCOVA, and MANOVA. RESULTS: There were no homogeneity at age, job, educational years between sexually active vs. inactive groups. In sexually active group, mean age was 46.1, having job 34.5%, bachelor's degree 38.2%, and pre-menopause 79.2%; for the inactive group 49.6, 10.4%, 12.5%, and 52.7% seperately. There were significant differences in quality of life, sexual function, and depression between two groups when four covariates were controlled. The quality of life and sexual function in sexually active group were significantly higher than inactive group(p<0.001). The depression in sexually active group was significantly lower than inactive group(p<0.001). CONCLUSION: This study indicates that nurses are needed to counsel and intervene psychosexual approach especially sexually inactive women with breast cancer during the recovery period.
Breast Neoplasms ; Depression ; Female ; Humans ; Korea ; Mastectomy ; Premenopause ; Quality of Life ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Self-Help Groups ; Sexual Behavior ; Spouses

Background/Aims: Periampuilary diverticulum has been known to be associated with various bilio-pancreatic diseases such as choledocholithiasis and disturbs performing selective cannuiation of ERCP and EST. This present study aims to investigate anatomical morphology of periampullary diverticulum and to determine whether periampullary diverticulurn influences difficulty and complication performing of ERCP and to analyse the relationship between periampullary diverticulum and choledocholithiasis. Methods: We reviewed records of chart and diverticular pictures in 1389 cases of underwent ERCP and evaluated the incidence, size, direction, location of periampullary diverticulum and its influence against performing of ERCP and investigated its relationship with bilio-pancreatic diseases such as choledocholithiasis.(continue..)
Cholangiopancreatography, Endoscopic Retrograde ; Choledocholithiasis ; Diverticulum* ; Incidence

The endoscopic mucosal resection(EMR) is proposed by some Japanese investigators as a curative therapy of early gastric cancer(EGC) because of its minimal invasiveness and excellent results. To evaluate the possible role of EMR as a curative treatment modality of EGC, we retrospectively analyzed l9 casea with EGC initially treated by EMR in Seoul National University Hospital from December 1993 and January 1996. 1) The histologic diagnosis prior to EMR was adenocarcinoma in 12 cases(63%) and adenomatous polyp in 7 cases(38%), which were confirmed as adenocarcinoma after EMR. 2) The histologic curative resection was done in 7 cases(37%). Two cases of them showed recurrence of the gastric cancer and were treated by radical surgery. The other five cases have been closely observed by regular endoscopic examination without recurrence for the maximal period of 1~3 months. 3) Histoiogically inadequate resection(positive cancer cell in resection margin, submucosal cancer infiltration, or no cancer tissue in resected specimen) was done in 12 cases(73%). But two surgically resected cimens of them have no residual cancer cells, and there was no cancer cells in the follow-up biopsy of the other two patients. There 4 cases were seemed to he examples of buring effect of EMR 4) After excluding five depressed lesions greater than 1 cm is long diameter, nine lesions were curatively treated by EMR. So successful EMR rate for strictly indicated lesions wsa 64% 5) There was no signifieant complication related to the procedure. We thnnk that endoscopic mucosal resection has a potential role as a curative treatment modality in a highly selected patient with darly gastric cancer
Adenocarcinoma ; Adenomatous Polyps ; Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; Biopsy ; Diagnosis ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Neoplasm, Residual ; Recurrence ; Research Personnel ; Retrospective Studies ; Seoul ; Stomach Neoplasms*

Background/Aims: Esophageal cancer is not an uncommon cancer in Korea, however, the prognosis still remains very poor with a 5 year survival rate bemg less than l0% mainly becauae of the delayed diagnosis. Although chromoscopy with lugol solution has been received to diagnose the esophageal cancer in an early stage without difficulty, its clinical use has not been popular yet in Korea. This study was performed prospectively to evaluate the usefulness of the chromoscopy for the detection of superficial esophageal cancer in risk patients for esophageal cancer. Methods: Ninety-five patients were selected among persons who received gasiroscopy at Asan Medical Center between Jan. 1996 and May 1996 and were prospectively included for chromoscopy. Inclusion criteria for the chromoscopy were patients older than 60 years of age with smoking history of more than 30 packyears, and/or past or family history of cancers. After conventional endoscopic examination, lugol solution was sprayed to stain the glycogen granules in the epithelial cells. The size of unstained lesion was measured and stainability was classified into 5 grades. All lesions unstained were biopsied for histological diagnosis.(continue...)
Chungcheongnam-do ; Delayed Diagnosis ; Epithelial Cells ; Esophageal Neoplasms* ; Glycogen ; Humans ; Korea ; Prognosis ; Prospective Studies ; Smoke ; Smoking ; Survival Rate

In this report, we describe ovarian mixed germ cell tumor in a patient with Turner syndrome. Right ovary was replaced by a 15 x 11 x 10cm teratomatous benign tissue and small area of mixed malignant germ cell tissue. The malignant germ cell portion was composed of embryonal carcinoma and loose reticular area of yolk sac tumor and syncytiotrophoblastic giant cells. Left ovary was streak gonad. This is the first reported case of mixed germ cell tumor with Turner syndrome in Korea.
Carcinoma, Embryonal ; Endodermal Sinus Tumor ; Female ; Germ Cells* ; Giant Cells ; Gonads ; Humans ; Korea ; Neoplasms, Germ Cell and Embryonal* ; Ovary ; Trophoblasts ; Turner Syndrome*

Primary carcinoma of the fallopian tube is an extremely rare malignancy of the female genital tract. We have experienced two cases of primary carcinoma in the fallopian tube. One case with huge mass which was diagnosed incidentally on the basis of the biopsy findings, and the other case of the 3 years follow-up. We reported the cases with a brief review of the concemed literatures.
Biopsy ; Fallopian Tubes* ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans

This study was performed to evaluate the diagnostic value of colposcopy by comparing colposcopic findings with cytology, histology of colposcopically directed biopsy and final biopsy result on hysterectomy. From January 1, 1988 to August 31, 1996, the colposcopic examinations was undertaken in 1200 patients, excluding grossly visible carcinoma of the cervix. The result were as follows : 1. Colposcopic examinations were satisfactory in 95.4% and unsatisfactory in 4.58%. 2. The accuracy rate of cytologic diagnosis was 73.1% and colposcopic impression was 93.1%. 3. The false negative rate of colposcopic impression was 2.6%, much less than 24,7% of cytologic examination. 4. The cytologic accuracy rate in cervicitis was higher than that of colposcopic impression but the accuracy rate of colposcopic impression in diagnosis of cervical intraepithelial neoplasia was higher than that of cytology. 5. Among 97 cases in which colposcopically directed biopsy were performed, more advanced lesion were disclosed in 12 cases(12.4%).
Biopsy ; Cervical Intraepithelial Neoplasia ; Cervix Uteri ; Colposcopy* ; Diagnosis ; Early Diagnosis* ; Female ; Humans ; Hysterectomy ; Uterine Cervical Neoplasms* ; Uterine Cervicitis

Human epithelial cell line immortalized by Ad12-SV40 hybrid virus was transfected with plasmid containing HPV-16 via calcium-phosphate method. Subsequently, 8 clonal cell lines were obtained after G418 selection. Among these clonal cells, clonal cell-4(C-4) and clonal cell-6(G-6) showed increases of tumorigenic cellular properties such as saturation density, soft agar colony formation and cell aggregation. Morphological alteration such as appearane of foci was observed on these two clones after passage 6 and 7(50 to 55 days after transfection). When clonal cells and control cells were treated with MNNG(0.01ug/ml), both C-4 and C-6 showed increases of tumorigenic cellular properties and the level of increase was much more elevated as compared to clonal cells prior to MNNG treatment. Appearance of foci formation was observed in C-4 and C-6 after passage-6. After passage-8, control cells and all clonal cells showed morphological alterations. It seems that treatment of cells containing HPV-16 DNA with MNNG increases tumorigenic properties of the cells and expedite morphological transformations. (continue)
Agar ; Cell Aggregation ; Cell Line ; Clone Cells ; DNA ; Epithelial Cells* ; Human papillomavirus 16 ; Humans* ; Methylnitronitrosoguanidine ; Plasmids