The purpose of this study was to explore differ ences in cancer fear and perception of
cancer treatment between breast cancer patients and women who have not experienced
breast cancer. The subject of this study were 91 breast cancer patients and 79 women
who have not experienced breast cancer. Data were collected August 1, to October 15,
1999 by the means of a questionnaire. The instrument us ed for this study were the Cancer
Fear Inventory and Perception of Cancer Treatment Inventory which were designed by the
Montana Family Cancer Project Res earch Team. The data were analyzed by SAS
computerized program. It included percentage, t - test , ANOVA, and Pear son Correlation
Coefficient.
The study had following research objectives.
1. Describe cancer fears between br east cancer patients and women who have not
experienced breast cancer.
2. Describe perception of cancer treatment between br east cancer patients and women
who have not experienced br east cancer.
3. Describe the relation between cancer fear and perception of cancer treatment
4. Describe cancer fear and perception of cancer treatment by demographic
char acteristics between two groups.
The results of this study were as follows :
The mean score of cancer fear was 2.28 in breast cancer patient, 2.64 in women who
have not experienced breast cancer. This result was statistically significant.
The mean score of cancer fear of women who have not experienced in breast cancer
was higher than that of breast cancer patient in items of pain, decreas ed in quality of life,
separ ation from loved ones, and death significantly.
The mean score of perception of cancer tr eatment was 2.73 in breast cancer patient, 2.58
in women who have not experienced br east cancer. This result was statistically significant.
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