Letter to the Editor
Copyright ©The Author(s) 2024. Published by Baishideng Publishing Group Inc. All rights reserved.
World J Psychiatry. Nov 19, 2024; 14(11): 1766-1771
Published online Nov 19, 2024. doi: 10.5498/wjp.v14.i11.1766
Holistic approaches to mitigating psychological distress in gynecological cancer patients
Haewon Byeon
Haewon Byeon, Department of Digital Anti-aging Healthcare (BK21), Inje University, Gimhae 50834, South Korea
Author contributions: Byeon H designed the study, involved in data interpretation, developed methodology, preformed the statistical analysis, and assisted with writing the article.
Supported by Basic Science Research Program through the National Research Foundation of Korea (NRF) funded by the Ministry of Education, No. NRF-RS-2023-00237287 and No. NRF-2021S1A5A8062526; and Local Government-University Cooperation-Based Regional Innovation Projects, No. 2021RIS-003.
Conflict-of-interest statement: No benefits in any form have been received or will be received from a commercial party related directly or indirectly to the subject of this article.
Open-Access: This article is an open-access article that was selected by an in-house editor and fully peer-reviewed by external reviewers. It is distributed in accordance with the Creative Commons Attribution NonCommercial (CC BY-NC 4.0) license, which permits others to distribute, remix, adapt, build upon this work non-commercially, and license their derivative works on different terms, provided the original work is properly cited and the use is non-commercial. See: https://creativecommons.org/Licenses/by-nc/4.0/
Corresponding author: Haewon Byeon, DSc, PhD, Academic Editor, Associate Professor, Director, Department of Digital Anti-aging Healthcare (BK21), Inje University, No. 197 Injero, Gimhae 50834, South Korea. bhwpuma@naver.com
Received: July 19, 2024
Revised: September 21, 2024
Accepted: October 18, 2024
Published online: November 19, 2024
Processing time: 110 Days and 23.5 Hours
Abstract

This article delves into the psychological impact of gynecological malignancies and suggests pathways to improve the quality of life (QoL) for affected patients. Building on Shang et al's comprehensive analysis, this piece integrates insights from various studies to highlight the profound influence of psychological and physical symptoms on patients undergoing treatment for gynecological cancers. The study underscores that anxiety and depression significantly exacerbate the disease's toll. Factors such as physical exercise and digital and interactive health interventions show promise in mitigating these adverse effects. The article emphasizes the necessity for a holistic care approach that addresses both physical and emotional needs. Recommendations include enhanced training for healthcare providers, public awareness campaigns, streamlined diagnostic pathways, and improved access to specialist care. These integrated strategies aim to ensure that women facing gynecological cancers can maintain an optimal QoL through comprehensive and multidisciplinary care models.

Keywords: Gynecological malignancies; Psychological impact; Quality of life; Holistic care

Core Tip: This article highlights the critical psychological impact of gynecological cancers and suggests comprehensive care strategies to improve patient outcomes. Key recommendations include training healthcare providers to recognize psychological distress, public awareness campaigns, streamlined diagnostic pathways, and improved access to specialist care. Emphasizing the integration of physical and emotional care, the article advocates for a holistic approach to treatment, ensuring that patients receive the support needed to maintain an optimal quality of life.