Abstract

INTRODUCTION

Apart from standard chemotherapy, autologous stem cell transplantation (ASCT) is one of the most effective treatment options in patients with relapse/refractory lymphomas. Lymphoma survivors are thought to experience some difficulties in social life, business life, sexual life and family relations after ASCT. The aim of this study is to investigate the frequency of divorce in patients who underwent ASCT for lymphoma and to evaluate the patient characteristics and the treatment-related factors that may affect the divorce.

METHODS

Patients over 18 years of age with a diagnosis of relapsed or refractory lymphoma who underwent ASCT and in remission were included in the study. The primary endpoint of the study was to evaluate the frequency of divorce after ASCT. The secondary endpoint was to reveal the factors that might be associated with divorce.

RESULTS

The median age of 95 patients included in the study was 50 (21-69 years). Most of the patients were male (n: 72, 75.8%). More than half of the patients (n: 60, 63.1%) were living in the city center and 73 (69.5%) patients were still working after ASCT. Eighty (84.2%) of our patients were still married. The median duration of marriage in these patients was 30.01 years (2.5-48.5 years). Of the 15 (15.7%) single patients, 4 (4.2%) were divorced after ASCT. It was observed that gender, educational status, employment status, place of residence, childbearing and lymphoma type were not associated with divorce rates.

DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION

In our study, the rate of divorce was found 4.2% in lymphoma survivors treated with ASCT. According to our results, lymphoma type, gender, employment status and educational status were not associated with divorce risk. Family counseling and psychooncology consultation starting from the pre-ASCT period can reduce the frequency of divorce.