Abstract: Introduction: Distress is a significant health problem and still remains unrecognized 
in many cancer centers . The nurse working in the oncology field also plays role in the process 
of screening. Nowadays the screening mechanism and the part of the different participants, 
medical care providers, is still developing and needs more discussions. The interest about 
distress screening in oncology patients is increasing rapidly. However there are also for 
difficulties in applying and understanding the screening problems.
The aim of the present study is to determine and identify the level of distress in cancer patients 
by applying validated questionnaires.
Materials and methods: Questionnaire method - using a standard questionnaire to 
determine the baseline level of distress in patients diagnosed with cancer (before the start of 
the chemotherapy - neoadjuvant, adjuvant or first line of chemotherapy). We also used a 
standard questionnaire to determine the level of distress after the completion of the prescribed 
chemotherapeutic treatment. Medical and statistical methods were used for analyzing the 
collected data.
Results: The following factors are associated with a higher risk for high levels of distress in 
cancer patients – unmarried status (OR 5.3, 95% CI, 1.2-21.3; p = 0.02), poor performance 
status (OR 0.46, 95% CI, 0.26 -0.8; p = 0.006), lung cancer (OR 4.9, 95% CI, 2.1-11.3; p = 
0.001), breast cancer (OR 2.7, 95% CI, 1.2-6.1; p = 0.01. Patients with metastatic or nonmetastatic stages of the disease have similar levels of distress.
Conclusion: An area is set for the nurse and the attending physician to inform the patients 
about the stage of the disease and the possibilities for treatment. This will lead to reducing 
levels of distress and improving quality of life of cancer patients.
Key words: nurse, distress, cancer patients, screening

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