This investigation is based on the literary review of suicide in cancer patients conductedby the lead investigator and Dr. Juan Gabriel Ocampo. They found that while cancer patients candevelop appropriate strategies for coping with stress, they can also desire to die as an escapemechanism to avoid further suffering. They also identified a lack of investigation around thissubject, and therefore the need to carry out a descriptive exploratory study. The investigationtook place in a third level institution in Bogotá, Colombia specializing in cancer treatment. Theinstitution treats patients between the ages of 18 and 65 years old that have access to outpatients,hospitalization and chemotherapy. The goal of the investigation was to establish the prevalenceof suicidal thoughts and identify the factors associated with it in adults with cancer. Theevaluation was done through a semi-structured interview and the application of BHS, SSI andBDI-IA. The results showed a low degree of suicidal thoughts in the study population and adiverse range of associations between suicidal thoughts and depression, hopelessness, pain andfatigue. Similarly, other association data demonstrate a necessity for cancer patients to receivepsychological therapy, as they show a significant degree of psychological distress that may beoverlooked.
