Predicting Pain Trajectories in the One Year Following Breast Cancer Diagnosis—An Observational Study

The impact of psychosocial vulnerability on pain in the year following breast cancer diagnosis has been little studied. To identify a score of psychosocial vulnerability (cognitive, emotional, quality of life and precariousness parameters) as a predictor of a pain trajectory, we conducted an observational prospective study and included women with newly diagnosed breast cancer. One year follow-up with 3 visits (day of breast cancer diagnosis; 6 and 12 months) aimed to identify distinct pain-time trajectories. Baseline psychosocial vulnerability was characterized by z-score transformation, a higher score representing a more vulnerable patient. A total of 89 patients were included (59.3 ± 10.7 years). Two trajectories of pain were identified—“Transient Pain trajectory” (TP) (39/89 patients) and “Persistent Pain trajectory” (PP) (50/89). A significant difference of pain over time between trajectories (PP vs. TP at 6 months: 2.23 ± 0.23 vs. 0.27 ± 0.09, p < 0.001) was observed. Psychosocial vulnerability showed a large effect size (d, −0.82; 95% CI, −1.25 to −0.38; p < 0.001) and a higher score in “Persistent pain trajectory” (PP vs. TP: 0.12 ± 0.36 vs. −0.14 ± 0.26, p < 0.001). A predictive vulnerability marker of pain development is proposed and could be used at cancer diagnosis to orientate the care pathway of patients experiencing breast cancer.

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The impact of a breast cancer diagnosis on women’s work status.

Journal of Clinical Oncology ◽

10.1200/jco.2018.36.7_suppl.23 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 36 (7_suppl) ◽

pp. 23-23

Author(s):

Lucinda Barry ◽

Leanne Storer ◽

Meron Pitcher

Keyword(s):

Breast Cancer ◽

Cancer Diagnosis ◽

Financial Stress ◽

Breast Cancer Diagnosis ◽

Work Status ◽

Paid Employment ◽

The Mean ◽

Woman's Work ◽

One Year ◽

The Impact

23 Background: The diagnosis and treatment of cancer often causes financial stress, partly by impacting on the ability to continue in paid employment. Our aim was to identify changes in work status 12 months after a diagnosis of breast cancer. Methods: An audit of the medical records of women who presented to the Western Health (Victoria, Australia) nurse led breast cancer Survivorship Clinic (SC) between October 2015 and October 2016 was performed to identify employment status at diagnosis and at their review at SC 12 months later. Results: 111 records were reviewed. The mean age was 55 (range 28-82yrs). 84 of these women (76%) were 65 years of younger at the time of diagnosis. 46 of the 84 women ≤65 years were in paid employment at diagnosis (55%), and 38 (83%) were still working in some capacity at review in the SC. Of the 38 still working, 28 were working in the same capacity, 8 were working reduced hours, and 2 were working increased hours. Women who had axillary dissections were most likely to have changed work status. Financial stress was reported by 8/19 of women who stopped working or had changed work hours, including 9 no longer in paid employment and 10 with changed hours. 2/28 women working in the same capacity reported financial stress. 65% of those who reported financial stress (11/17) had chemotherapy as part of their treatment. Conclusions: A breast cancer diagnosis has the ability to influence a woman's work status one year after diagnosis. Health professionals should appreciate the potential work concerns and financial stresses continuing to affect their patients.

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The Impact of COVID-19 Outbreak on Emotional and Cognitive Vulnerability in Iranian Women With Breast Cancer

Frontiers in Psychology ◽

10.3389/fpsyg.2021.663310 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 12 ◽

Author(s):

Mohammad H. Choobin ◽

Vida Mirabolfathi ◽

Bethany Chapman ◽

Ali Reza Moradi ◽

Elizabeth A. Grunfeld ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Breast Cancer ◽

Cancer Diagnosis ◽

Cognitive Vulnerability ◽

Emotional Health ◽

Breast Cancer Diagnosis ◽

Well Being ◽

Emotional Impact ◽

Targeted Interventions ◽

Emotional Vulnerability ◽

The Impact

The psychological cost on emotional well-being due to the collateral damage brought about by COVID-19 in accessing oncological services for breast cancer diagnosis and treatment has been documented by recent studies in the United Kingdom. The current study set out to examine the effect of delays to scheduled oncology services on emotional and cognitive vulnerability in women with a breast cancer diagnosis in Iran, one of the very first countries to be heavily impacted by COVID-19. One hundred thirty-nine women with a diagnosis of primary breast cancer answered a series of online questionnaires to assess the current state of rumination, worry, and cognitive vulnerability as well as the emotional impact of COVID-19 on their mental health. Results indicated that delays in accessing oncology services significantly increased COVID related emotional vulnerability. Regression analyses revealed that after controlling for the effects of sociodemographic and clinical variables, women’s COVID related emotional vulnerability explained higher levels of ruminative response and chronic worry as well as poorer cognitive function. This study is the first in Iran to demonstrate that the effects of COVID-19 on emotional health amongst women affected by breast cancer can exaggerate anxiety and depressive related symptoms increasing risks for clinical levels of these disorders. Our findings call for an urgent need to address these risks using targeted interventions exercising resilience.

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Divorce after breast cancer diagnosis and its impact on quality of life

Palliative & Supportive Care ◽

10.1017/s1478951521001711 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 1-6

Author(s):

Danbee Kang ◽

Nayeon Kim ◽

Gayeon Han ◽

Sooyeon Kim ◽

Hoyoung Kim ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Breast Cancer ◽

Quality Of Life ◽

Cancer Survivors ◽

Cancer Diagnosis ◽

Breast Cancer Survivors ◽

Breast Cancer Diagnosis ◽

Factors Associated ◽

After Cancer ◽

The Impact

Abstract Objective This study aims to identify factors associated with divorce following breast cancer diagnosis and measures the impact of divorce on the quality of life (QoL) of patients. Methods We used cross-sectional survey data collected at breast cancer outpatient clinics in South Korea from November 2018 to April 2019. Adult breast cancer survivors who completed active treatment without any cancer recurrence at the time of the survey (N = 4,366) were included. The participants were classified into two groups: “maintaining marriage” and “being divorced,” between at the survey and at the cancer diagnosis. We performed logistic regression and linear regression to identify the factors associated with divorce after cancer diagnosis and to compare the QoL of divorced and nondivorced survivors. Results Approximately 11.1/1,000 of married breast cancer survivors experienced divorce after cancer diagnosis. Younger age, lower education, and being employed at diagnosis were associated with divorce. Being divorced survivors had significantly lower QoL (Coefficient [Coef] = −7.50; 95% CI = −13.63, −1.36), social functioning (Coef = −9.47; 95% CI = −16.36, −2.57), and body image (Coef = −8.34; 95% CI = −6.29, −0.39) than survivors who remained married. They also experienced more symptoms including pain, insomnia, financial difficulties, and distress due to hair loss. Conclusion Identifying risk factors of divorce will ultimately help ascertain the resources necessary for early intervention.

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How do women with secondary breast cancer experience telling their adolescent children about their diagnosis?

Journal of Health Psychology ◽

10.1177/1359105316648484 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 23 (9) ◽

pp. 1223-1233 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Leonie Lalayiannis ◽

Nicky Asbury ◽

Graham Dyson ◽

Amanda Walshe

Keyword(s):

Breast Cancer ◽

Cancer Diagnosis ◽

Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis ◽

Breast Cancer Diagnosis ◽

Phenomenological Analysis ◽

Primary Cancer ◽

Structured Interviews ◽

Cancer Experience ◽

Secondary Breast Cancer ◽

The Impact

This study investigated how women with secondary breast cancer experience telling their adolescent children. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with women who had been diagnosed with secondary breast cancer at least 1 year prior to the interview. Seven women, who had at least one child between 12 and 19 years old living at home at the time of diagnosis, were interviewed. The interviews were analysed using interpretative phenomenological analysis for an in-depth understanding of women’s experiences. Women found that it was easier to tell their children of their secondary breast cancer diagnosis compared to their primary cancer. However, they talked about the impact the diagnosis had on their family.

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