Guided Imagery of the Gynecological Cancer

Gynecological cancers are among the most common cancers in women after breast cancer. According to GLOBOCAN (2022), 1.3 million new gynecological cancer cases were reported worldwide. In Turkey, the incidence of female reproductive organ cancers is 23.8%, with endometrial, ovarian, and cervical cancers being the most common. Treatment methods include surgery, chemotherapy, and radiotherapy, with platinum-based chemotherapy regimens widely preferred. However, chemotherapy causes numerous side effects such as nausea-vomiting, fatigue, anxiety, depression, and decreased quality of life. Complementary and alternative medicine approaches have been reported as effective in managing these symptoms. One mind-body based complementary method, guided imagery, aims to help individuals achieve relaxation, cope with stress, and experience physical comfort through mental imagery. Developed by Lerner, this technique uses themes such as "meadow, mountain, stream, home, and close relative." Guided imagery has shown positive effects like reducing stress, enhancing immunity, alleviating nausea-vomiting, and improving quality of life. Studies have demonstrated that guided imagery is effective in symptom management and improving psychological well-being especially in breast and gynecological cancer patients. However, research investigating the effect of this technique during chemotherapy in gynecological cancer patients is limited. This study is designed to evaluate the effects of guided imagery on nausea, vomiting, anxiety, and quality of life in women undergoing chemotherapy for gynecological cancers.