Abstract

Cancer diagnosis includes diagnosis and treatment processes which lead to psychosocial difficulties for patients and their spouses. In the period after cancer, patients’ levels of exposure in physical, psychological and social dimensions and the problems experienced decrease quality of life. A great number of studies in related literature emphasize the significance of spouses’ support in adapting to the disease and the treatment for patients diagnosed with cancer. It has been stated that the support given to patients by spouses have both positive and negative effects and that this difference is associated with the quality of support received and the perceptions of the patients. It is known that perceived stress against cancer decreases in couples who have a high compatibility and couples who cannot receive sufficient counselling for problems experienced during the treatment process of cancer cannot cope with this process effectively and they are faced with the decision to get a divorce. Health professionals working in the field have recommended interventions aiming to develop constructive communication in couples during the cancer process. At this point, the priority and significance of giving counselling services for possible psychosocial problems of spouses in addition to women diagnosed with cancer is very obvious. Although there are no routine psychosocial interventions to support the psychosocial adaptation of cancer patients in our country, studies to be conducted to support the spousal relations of surviving individuals will make great contributions in forming the content of counselling services to be given. It is aimed to reveal the change in the marital relationships of individuals diagnosed with cancer who are affected by the diagnosis and treatment processes of the disease.