Psychosocial factors and breast cancer: A 6-year Italian follow-up study

Author(s): Rodani, M. G., Cartei, G., Grassi, L.

Journal/Book: Psychother Psychosom. 1997; 66: Allschwilerstrasse 10, CH-4009 Basel, Switzerland. Karger. 229-236.

Abstract: Background: Over the last 20 years contradictory results have been obtained as regards to the role of psychosocial factors in favouring the onset of breast cancer and/or in influencing disease progression. Methods: The present study prospectively investigated the association between psychosocial variables and breast cancer in 95 out-patients. Within 3 months from the diagnosis the patients completed a series of questionnaires to evaluate psychological disturbances, emotional repression, adjustment to cancer, social support and occurrence of life events in the past. At a distance of 6 years from the first assessment, the patients' charts were re-examined in order to evaluate the course of cancer. Results: A higher volume of primary tumour at surgery was shown in patients who had had stressful events in the 6 months preceding cancer diagnosis. At follow-up, no relationship was found between psychosocial variables and the course of disease. The analysis of the frequency of relapses and deaths, and the survival analysis indicated that positivity of loco-regional lymph nodes, infiltrating histotype of the tumour and tumour stage were the only significant predictors of the time of death. Conclusions: The study suggests that clinical and biological rather than psychosocial factors exert a major role in breast cancer progression.

Note: Article Giraldi T, Univ Udine, Dipartimento Sci & Tecnol Biomed, Piazzale Kolbe 4, I-33100 Udine, ITALY

Keyword(s): psychosocial factors; adjustment; breast cancer; LIFE EVENTS; COPING STRATEGIES; PSYCHOLOGICAL-FACTORS; SURVIVAL; STRESS; WOMEN; RISK; DISEASE; DIAGNOSIS; QUESTIONNAIRE

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