The importance of personal defensive mechanisms in patients with advanced cancer in the context of acceptance of disease and quality of life

Katarzyna Malinowska; Aleksandra Drechna-Musiałowicz; Monika Sznajder

doi:10.5114/pm.2019.89588

eISSN: 2081-2833
ISSN: 2081-0016

Medycyna Paliatywna/Palliative Medicine

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3/2019
vol. 11

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abstract:

Case report

The importance of personal defensive mechanisms in patients with advanced cancer in the context of acceptance of disease and quality of life

Katarzyna Anna Malinowska

¹

,

Aleksandra Drechna-Musiałowicz

¹

,

Monika Sznajder

¹

Uniwersytecki Szpital Kliniczny im. WAM w Łodzi

Medycyna Paliatywna 2019; 11(3): 133–138

DOI: https://doi.org/10.5114/pm.2019.89588

Online publish date: 2019/11/15

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Patients with advanced cancer may have adaptive disorders that respond to an inconvenient situation in many dimensions of life. Defensive mechanisms of the personality allow them to reduce the intensity of unpleasant emotions without changing the situation that causes them. Through this, they can help to cope with stress and tension caused by the crisis situation. When applied excessively or inadequately to the situation, they may hinder the functioning of the oncological patient both by the inability to assess their own condition, the lack of communication with the treating physician, and indecision in the choice of an effective treatment method. This paper presents a case of a patient with advanced ovarian cancer, in whom the perpetuation of the defence mechanisms of the personality had an adverse impact on the course of the disease, which was a radical denial regarding the diagnosis and consequences of the disease and, therefore, discontinuation of the proposed treatment.

keywords:

The importance of personal defensive mechanisms in patients with advanced cancer in the context of acceptance of disease and quality of life

Katarzyna Anna Malinowska 1 , Aleksandra Drechna-Musiałowicz 1 , Monika Sznajder 1

defence mechanisms, acceptance of illness

Katarzyna Anna Malinowska

¹

,

Aleksandra Drechna-Musiałowicz

¹

,

Monika Sznajder

¹