Examining the Influence of Coping with Pain on Depression,Anxiety, and Fatigue Among Women with Breast Cancer

Abstract

Breast cancer treatment can have a profound influence on a woman's physical, psychological, social, and spiritual well-being. Anxiety, depression, anger, fatigue, and fear of recurrence are common responses to a diagnosis of breast cancer and undergoing breast cancer treatment. Women develop their own coping strategies for the pain and other effects of treatment. However, it is unclear whether there is a relationship between adaptation to pain and psychological distress during breast cancer treatment. Findings from the present study reveal that breast cancer patients who have better pain coping strategies also have lower levels of anxiety, fatigue and depression. These results suggest that pain coping interventions may reduce fatigue and psychological distress among women with breast cancer.     

Everyday Experiences of Women Posttreatment After Breast Cancer: The Role of Uncertainty,Hassles, Uplifts,and Coping on Depressive Symptoms

Considerable research has examined the experiences of women at risk, during diagnosis, and throughout treatment of breast cancer; however, less in known about these women posttreatment. Many women report dealing with extensive long-standing ailments such as lymphedema and fatigue, as well as a fear of illness recurrence. However, women posttreatment also report finding benefit and meaning from their cancer occurrence. These orthogonal outcomes may be related to the uncertainty an individual is able to tolerate. Thus, this online study examined Canadian women who completed treatment for breast cancer (n = 42), and women in a control condition (n = 42), responses to the daily experience of hassles and uplifts, intolerance of uncertainty, coping strategies, and depressive symptoms. Although depressive symptoms and daily hassles did not differ between the two groups of women, women with a previous cancer experience reported a greater amount and frequency of daily uplifts, and hassle intensity predicted fewer depressive symptoms among women posttreatment compared to healthy controls. Furthermore, hassle intensity mediated the relationship between intolerance of uncertainty and depressive symptoms, but only for women in the control condition. Last, for women posttreatment only, the use of emotion-focused coping to deal with a fear of cancer recurrence mediated the relationship between intolerance of uncertainty and depressive symptoms, whereas problem-focused, avoidant, or cognitive-restructuring coping strategies did not. These results point to the need to provide resources to women posttreatment, but also that those women who survive breast cancer can obtain benefits from the experience.     

Examining the influence of coping with pain on depression, anxiety, and fatigue among women with breast cancer

Breast cancer treatment can have a profound influence on a woman's physical, psychological, social, and spiritual well-being. Anxiety, depression, anger, fatigue, and fear of recurrence are common responses to a diagnosis of breast cancer and undergoing breast cancer treatment. Women develop their own coping strategies for the pain and other effects of treatment. However, it is unclear whether there is a relationship between adaptation to pain and psychological distress during breast cancer treatment. Findings from the present study reveal that breast cancer patients who have better pain coping strategies also have lower levels of anxiety, fatigue and depression. These results suggest that pain coping interventions may reduce fatigue and psychological distress among women with breast cancer.     

My mind is made up: Cancer concern and women’s preferences for contralateral prophylactic mastectomy

The fear of cancer recurrence is cited as a motivator of women's preferences between routine monitoring and contralateral prophylactic mastectomy (CPM) as methods of managing ongoing breast cancer risk. We conducted a discrete choice experiment among a general community sample of women who completed 12 hypothetical choices between routine monitoring and CPM described by aspects of treatment efficacy, safety, cost and involvement in decision‐making. Respondents also completed a modified cancer worry question to assess cancer concern. Approximately 57.5% of 464 women always chose one option, typically routine monitoring. The majority (71.5%) reported being concerned about cancer recurrence when completing choice tasks. Latent class analysis identified three groups: preferred routine monitoring; preferred CPM; and “traders” (willing to swap between options). Among traders, women were less likely to choose an option associated with higher risk of recurrence. Women were more likely to choose options associated with less‐intrusive monitoring methods and where they were involved in decision‐making. Women concerned about cancer recurrence were more likely to choose CPM over monitoring. This study shows that women's preferences about how to manage breast cancer recurrence risk reflect the importance of the associated health effects, experience of care and attitudes to cancer recurrence.     

早期乳腺癌保乳治疗后的心理状况研究

[目的]探讨早期乳腺癌女性患者保乳治疗后的心理状况变化.[方法]对2002年1月至2003年12月间就诊的66例早期女性乳腺癌患者施行了保留乳房局部治疗和辅助全身治疗,在术后1年以问卷方式对66例患者的心理状态进行调查分析,并随机抽取符合相似条件的66例同期行改良根治术后患者进行心理情况对照研究.[结果]随访1年所有病例均无局部复发,66例保乳病例美容效果评价良好60例,一般6例.有9例(13.64%)保乳术后患者存在不同程度不同形式的心理障碍,而对照组有53例(80.30%),两组差异有非常显著性意义(P＜0.01).其中对肿瘤复发的恐惧感,保乳组6例,对照组5例,两组差异无显著性(P＞0.05).[结论]乳房切除术后的女性患者较普遍存在心理缺失,以保乳治疗代替改良根治术治疗早期女性乳腺癌,不但能取得满意的美容效果,而且能在很大程度上维护患者的心理健康.     

Risk of Ipsilateral and Contralateral Cancer in BRCA Mutation Carriers with Breast Cancer

BRCA1 and BRCA2 mutation carriers with breast cancer have a high risk of ipsilateral breast cancer tumor recurrence (IBTR) and a high lifetime risk of contralateral breast cancer (CBC). The IBTR risk is significantly higher in women who elect breast conservation. Oophorectomy has a protective effect for both ipsilateral breast tumor recurrence and CBC. Patients with younger age of breast cancer onset have a significantly greater risk of CBC. Given the higher risk of IBTR and CBC, when indicated, patients with breast cancer should undergo genetic counseling early in their treatment course to assist them in their surgical decision-making. Knowledge of expected outcomes for BRCA1/2 mutation carriers following breast cancer treatment can help in appropriately counseling patients and personalizing cancer therapy.     

Long-Term Psychological Sequelae of Mastectomy and Breast Conserving Treatment for Breast Cancer

Psychiatric and psychosocial adaptation to two types of treatment for primary breast cancer, modified radical mastectomy and partial mastectomy with radiotherapy, was studied five years after the primary treatment. 102 consecutive patients with pT1NOMO breast cancer were invited to follow-up which was done by standardized questionnaires. Nineteen women declined the invitation and 25 others were not included for various reasons, leaving 58 to complete the interviews. 30% of the women reported accentuated mental symptoms compared to the state before treatment, with no significant difference between the two treatment groups. Psychiatric state, marital adjustment and fear of cancer recurrence were also similar in the two groups. However, breast conserving treatment seems to preserve the woman's female identity and acceptance of body configuration. We conclude that breast conservation does not in itself prevent mental sequelae after treatment for primary breast cancer. Selective psychoprophylactic programs and reorganization of the postoperative follow-up should be tried to diminish unwanted psychological reactions.     

Who is not reassured following benign diagnosis of breast symptoms?

Many women fail to be reassured about their breast symptom following benign diagnosis. Identification of the factors contributing to this continued anxiety is important in order that appropriate intervention can be incorporated into the care of women undergoing diagnosis. In this study, we measured levels of anxiety, depression, stress, perceived personal risk of breast cancer, fear of breast cancer treatment and general health anxiety along with clinical and demographic variables in women undergoing investigation of breast symptoms. We then assessed if these factors were associated with reassurance about the breast symptom immediately following benign diagnosis. METHODS: Women attending a specialist 'one-stop' breast clinic completed a questionnaire in the clinic prior to diagnosis and a reassurance measure post-benign breast symptom diagnosis. RESULTS: Post-diagnosis, 67% of women were reassured however, 33% were not reassured about their breast symptom despite a benign diagnosis. Women who were not reassured were more likely to be educated only to high school level and have presenting symptoms of a change in breast shape/dimpling of the breast. There was a trend for women who were not reassured to have breast pain and be diagnosed with a benign breast cyst. Examination of the psychological variables showed that women who were not reassured compared to reassured women had higher levels of health anxiety, perceived stress, fear of breast cancer treatment and general anxiety. Logistic regression analysis entering all the predictors suggests that level of education was the strongest predictor of lack of reassurance following benign diagnosis. CONCLUSION: This study found that a significant proportion of women who undergo investigation and receive a benign diagnosis of their breast symptom experience uncertainty. Our finding that women who were not reassured were more likely to be educated only to high school level suggests that this group may benefit from additional information about breast symptoms and benign diagnosis. Additionally, our results indicate that women with high levels of anxiety, perceived stress and general worry about their health may need further reassurance in the immediate diagnosis phase. Further research focussing on how reassurance is interpreted in the context of women's perceptions about breast symptoms and breast disease is important so that appropriate support can be offered for women undergoing diagnosis of breast symptoms.     

Fear of recurrence, breast-conserving surgery, and the trade-off hypothesis.

Fear of recurrence has been at the heart of the controversy between surgeons favoring mastectomy versus those advocating a less radical operation. Breast-conserving surgery is thought to result in a better body image, but patients are expected to worry more about a cancer recurrence because only a small part of the breast is excised. To assess survival rates after breast-conserving intervention, patients were randomized into the National Surgical Adjuvant Breast Project (NSABP) prospective clinical trial (Protocol B06) with three treatment groups: total mastectomy, lumpectomy, and lumpectomy followed by radiation therapy. A fourth group was created to include patients who had a recurrence after their first operation and thus underwent a subsequent total mastectomy. Differences appeared, not according to the type of treatment, but with respect to the number of surgical interventions. Patients with multiple operations reported a greater fear of cancer recurrence and a worse body image, similar to those that underwent total mastectomy. Contrary to the trade-off hypothesis, patients who underwent radical surgery did not manifest less fear of recurrence. These results show unequivocally that the expected trade-off between breast conservation and fear of cancer recurrence does not occur. Those who undergo lumpectomy do not more express more fear of cancer than do patients who undergo mastectomy.     

Everyday experiences of women posttreatment after breast cancer: the role of uncertainty, hassles, uplifts, and coping on depressive symptoms

Considerable research has examined the experiences of women at risk, during diagnosis, and throughout treatment of breast cancer; however, less in known about these women posttreatment. Many women report dealing with extensive long-standing ailments such as lymphedema and fatigue, as well as a fear of illness recurrence. However, women posttreatment also report finding benefit and meaning from their cancer occurrence. These orthogonal outcomes may be related to the uncertainty an individual is able to tolerate. Thus, this online study examined Canadian women who completed treatment for breast cancer (n = 42), and women in a control condition (n = 42), responses to the daily experience of hassles and uplifts, intolerance of uncertainty, coping strategies, and depressive symptoms. Although depressive symptoms and daily hassles did not differ between the two groups of women, women with a previous cancer experience reported a greater amount and frequency of daily uplifts, and hassle intensity predicted fewer depressive symptoms among women posttreatment compared to healthy controls. Furthermore, hassle intensity mediated the relationship between intolerance of uncertainty and depressive symptoms, but only for women in the control condition. Last, for women posttreatment only, the use of emotion-focused coping to deal with a fear of cancer recurrence mediated the relationship between intolerance of uncertainty and depressive symptoms, whereas problem-focused, avoidant, or cognitive-restructuring coping strategies did not. These results point to the need to provide resources to women posttreatment, but also that those women who survive breast cancer can obtain benefits from the experience.     

Quality of Life in Breast Cancer Survivors as Identified by Focus Groups

Currently, over 1,700,000 women are living with breast cancer in the United States. These long-term survivors of breast cancer are challenged to redirect their energy from issues of cancer treatment and early side effects toward quality of life issues related to long-term survivorship, such as menopause, infertility, fear of recurrence, family distress, and uncertainty. In an attempt to obtain patient perspectives on quality of life and health care issues faced by breast cancer survivors, focus group methodology was utilized in the first year of a 2 year study. The sample was stratified to represent three age groups: < 40 years, 40–60 years and > 60, and was intended to represent different developmental levels believed to have varying experiences with quality of life and potentially divergent needs following breast cancer diagnosis. Results of these focus groups revealed unique quality of life concerns of breast cancer survivors across four domains of physical, psychological, social, and spiritual well being. Each of these domains yields important implications for future research and clinical practice. © 1997 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Markers for the identification of late breast cancer recurrence

Postmenopausal women with early breast cancer are at an ongoing risk of relapse, even after successful surgery and treatment of the primary tumor. The treatment of breast cancer has changed in the past few years because of the discovery of prognostic and predictive biomarkers that allow individualized breast cancer treatment. However, it is still not clear how to identify women that are at high risk of a late recurrence. Clinical parameters are good prognostic markers for early recurrence, but only nodal status and, to a lesser extent, tumor size have proven to be strong prognostic markers for late recurrence. Multi-gene signatures have become widely used for the prediction of overall recurrence risk and tailoring administration of adjuvant chemotherapy, but only a few have been shown to be prognostic for late (distant) relapse. There is a need to accurately identify women who may benefit from extended endocrine therapy but also those who may be spared any additional treatment. Recent results from large clinical trials have shown that the research is going in the right direction, and these results might help to optimize extended endocrine therapy for patients with early breast cancer. However, further research is needed to select individual biomarkers or multi-gene signatures that offer identification of late recurrence specifically and thus justify routine use of these tests in the clinical setting.

Electronic supplementary material

The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s13058-015-0516-0) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.     

Characteristics of women refusing follow-up for tests or symptoms suggestive of breast cancer

BACKGROUND: Delay in diagnosis of breast cancer can occur at several points on the diagnostic pathway. We examined characteristics of women with breast cancer who before diagnosis actively refused recommended follow-up of tests or symptoms suggestive of breast cancer. METHODS: We identified women aged 50 years or older diagnosed with late-stage (metastatic disease or tumors > or = 3 cm at diagnosis) and a matched sample of women with early-stage (tumors < 3 cm) breast cancer from 1995 to 1999. Using medical records, we investigated clinical characteristics, use of health care, and documentation of care refusal during the 3 years before diagnosis. We used logistic regression models to compare refusers to nonrefusers. RESULTS: Of the 2694 women studied, 7.2% refused provider follow-up advice during the 3 years. These women were more likely to have late-stage breast cancer at diagnosis than were nonrefusers (odds ratio [OR] = 1.9, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.4 to 2.6). They were more likely to be aged 75 years or older (OR = 1.9, 95% CI = 1.4 to 2.7 compared with age 50-64) or to have six or more children (OR = 2.3, 95% CI = 1.3 to 4.2 compared to women with one to two children). Clinical factors associated with refusal included low use of mammography, high use of clinical breast exam, and missed appointments. A minority of women who refused had a reason documented in the medical record; the most frequent reasons were avoidance-denial-fatalism, fear of diagnostic tests, and fear of surgery or disfigurement. CONCLUSIONS: Our results suggest that certain demographic and clinical characteristics are associated with women's refusal of diagnostic testing for breast cancer. Further study is needed on refusers' characteristics and on how such refusals affect outcomes. Efforts aimed at identifying and counseling women with abnormal results who refuse follow-up are warranted.     

The Results of a Breast Cancer Screening Camp at a District Level in Rural India

Background: Breast cancer in developing countries is on the rise. There are currently no guidelines to screen women at risk in India. Since mammography in the western world is a well-accepted screening tool to prevent late presentation of breast cancer and improve mortality, it is intuitive to adopt mammography as a screening tool of choice. However, it is expensive and fraught with logistical issues in developing countries like India.Materials and Methods: Our breast cancer screening camp was done at a local district hospital in India after approval from the director and administrators. After initial training of local health care workers, a one-day camp was held. Clinical breast examination, mammograms, as well as diagnostic evaluation with ultrasound and fine needle aspiration biopsy were utilized. Results: Out of total 68 women screened only 2 women with previous history of breast cancer were diagnosed with breast cancer recurrence. None of the women in othergroups were diagnosed with breast cancer despite suspicious lesions either on clinical exam, mammogram or ultrasound. Most suspicious lesions were fibroadenomas. The average cost of screening women who underwentmammography, ultrasound and fine needle aspiration was $30 dollars, whereas it was $16 in women who had simple clinical breast examination. Conclusions: Local camps act as catalysts for women to seek medical attentionor discuss with local health care workers concerns of discovering new lumps or developing breast symptoms.Our camp did diagnose recurrence of breast cancer in two previously treated breast cancer patients, who were promptly referred to a regional cancer hospital. Further studies are needed in countries like India to identify the best screening tool to decrease the presentation of breast cancer in advanced stages and to reduce mortality.     

Mammography Surveillance Following Breast Cancer

Background. To describe when women diagnosed with breast cancer return for their first mammography, and to identify factors predictive of women returning for mammographic surveillance. Methods. Women who underwent mammography at facilities participating in the National Cancer Institute's Breast Cancer Surveillance Consortium (BCSC) during 1996 and who were subsequently diagnosed with ductal carcinoma in situ or invasive breast cancer were included in this study. Data from seven mammography registries were linked to population-based cancer and pathology registries. Kaplan–Meier curves were used to depict the number of months from the breast cancer diagnosis to the first mammogram within the defined follow-up period. Demographic, disease and treatment variables were included in univariate and multivariate analyses to identify factors predictive of women returning for mammography. Results. Of the 2503 women diagnosed with breast cancer, 78.1% returned for mammography examination between 7 and 30 months following the diagnosis. Mammography facilities indicated that 66.8% of mammography examinations were classified as screening. Multivariate analyses found that women were most likely to undergo surveillance mammography if they were diagnosed at ages 60–69 with Stage 0, I or II breast cancer and had received radiation therapy in addition to surgery. Conclusions. While the majority of women return for mammographic surveillance following breast cancer, some important subgroups of women at higher risk for recurrence are less likely to return. Research is needed to determine why some women are not undergoing mammography surveillance after a breast cancer diagnosis and whether surveillance increases the chance of detecting tumors with a good prognosis.     

'I'm living with a chronic illness, not . . . dying with cancer': a qualitative study of Australian women's self-identified concerns and needs following primary treatment for breast cancer

This study aimed to identify the current concerns and needs of Australian women who had recently completed primary treatment for breast cancer in order to develop a workbook-journal for this population. Focus groups were utilized to allow women to use their own frames of reference, and to identify and verbalize the topics that were important to them following treatment. All focus groups were conducted in a patient education and relaxation room, familiar to the women to assist them to feel more at ease. Ten women aged 36–68 years who had recently completed treatment for early-stage breast cancer at a South Australian public hospital took part in one of three focus groups. Topics covered included current physical, emotional and social needs. Participants reported a sense of apprehension about the future at the completion of primary treatment. In addition to this, five specific areas of concern were identified including physical sequelae of treatment, intimacy issues, fear of recurrence, benefit finding, and optimism versus pessimism about the future. Means of addressing post-treatment concerns were also discussed. Following the presentation of these findings, suggestions to aid health-care professionals in their clinical practice are provided.     

Lymphedema and breast cancer: a review of the literature

Breast cancer continues to be the most common malignancy among women in the United States. Despite its high incidence, early detection and modern treatment have made long-term survival more common. One of the most important sequelae of the treatment of breast cancer is the development of lymphedema. There are many issues for women to deal with after treatment for breast cancer. Focusing on the quality of life after breast cancer means dealing with issues such as an altered body image, changes in relationships with partner and children, living with any ongoing side effects, and the fear of tumor recurrence. The objective of this paper is to elucidate these issues concerning lymphedema.     

Risk-Stratified Intraoperative Radiation Therapy as a Definitive Adjuvant Radiation Therapy Modality for Women With Early Breast Cancer

Radiation therapy is an integral component of adjuvant therapy in women who undergo breast conservative surgery, decreasing the likelihood of tumor recurrence and extending survival. The likelihood of tumor recurrence is highest within a proximity of the lumpectomy cavity, which prompted the idea of partial breast irradiation in place of the usual standard-of-care treatment with external beam whole breast radiation therapy. Targeted intraoperative radiation therapy (TARGIT-A) is a multicenter trial initially developed in 1999 and designed as a randomized clinical trial comparing whole breast radiation therapy to risk-adapted intraoperative radiation therapy (IORT). TARGIT-A recruited its first patient in March 2000, with the study concluding in 2012. At a median follow-up of 8.6 years, the prepathology TARGIT-A trial noted results to be noninferior to external beam radiation therapy, with no statistically significant difference in ipsilateral breast tumor recurrence, mastectomy-free survival, distant disease-free survival, or breast cancer–specific mortality. These results are consistent with the majority of retrospective and prospective trials. Risk-adapted IORT, as performed in the prospective randomized TARGIT-A trial, gives level 1 evidence that this approach is a standard option in the treatment of breast cancer.     

Women's Breast Cancer Risk Perception and Attitudes Toward Screening Tests

This study's objective is to identify women's breast cancer risk perceptions and their attitudes and knowledge on screening tests. The cross-sectional research. Gulhane Military Medical Academy, Ankara, Turkey. The population of 188 females who applied for gynecological examination. The study employed a semistructured questionnaire form. Questions such as female's demographic data, attitudes based on screening tests of breast cancer, family history, perceived risk breast cancer, and questions with regard to patients’ fear of breast cancer were included in the survey. In this study, it is determined that the rates of the women, who conduct breast self-examination (BSE), clinical breast examination (CBE) and mammography at least once, are very low. The reason for not performing the BSE was declared with a rate of 50.8% as “Do not know how to perform.” Of the women 20.2% were fully acknowledged about BSE. Nearly half of the women perceived 50% or more risk of developing breast cancer, and this rate increases as they get older. The risk perception and educational status increased CBE and mammography rates and BSE knowledge positively, but because of insufficient BSE application abilities BSE rate cannot increase as expected. It is recommended that nurses put forward the initiatives in training programs to increase women's BSE abilities. In planning such an education program risk perception and information of women about breast cancer should be considered.     

COVID-19 Pandemic Stressors and Psychological Symptoms in Breast Cancer Patients

Background. The current Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic is a highly stressful event that may lead to significant psychological symptoms, particularly in cancer patients who are at a greater risk of contracting viruses. This study examined the frequency of stressors experienced in relation to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic and its relationship with psychological symptoms (i.e., anxiety, depression, insomnia, fear of cancer recurrence) in breast cancer patients. Methods. Thirty-six women diagnosed with a non-metastatic breast cancer completed the Insomnia Severity Index, the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale, the severity subscale of the Fear of Cancer Recurrence Inventory, and the COVID-19 Stressors Questionnaire developed by our research team. Participants either completed the questionnaires during (30.6%) or after (69.4%) their chemotherapy treatment. Results. Results revealed that most of the participants (63.9%) have experienced at least one stressor related to the COVID-19 pandemic (one: 27.8%, two: 22.2%, three: 11.1%). The most frequently reported stressor was increased responsibilities at home (33.3%). Higher levels of concerns related to the experienced stressors were significantly correlated with higher levels of anxiety, depressive symptoms, insomnia, and fear of cancer recurrence, rs(32) = 0.36 to 0.59, all ps < 0.05. Conclusions. Cancer patients experience a significant number of stressors related to the COVID-19 pandemic, which are associated with increased psychological symptoms. These results contribute to a better understanding of the psychological consequences of a global pandemic in the context of cancer and they highlight the need to better support patients during such a challenging time.