Psychological response to breast cancer: effect on outcome.
A prospective, multidisciplinary, 5-year study of 69 consecutive female patients with early (T0,1N0,1M0) breast cancer was conducted. Patients' psychological responses to the diagnosis of cancer were assessed 3 months postoperatively. These responses were related to outcome 5 years after operation. Recurrence-free survival was significantly common among patients who had initially reacted to cancer by denial or who had a fighting spirit than among patients who had responded with stoic acceptance or feelings of helplessness and hopelessness.
D001293:Attitude to Death; D001294:Attitude to Health; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000401:mortality / Q000523:psychology* / Q000628:therapy; D004644:Emotions; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D011446:Prospective Studies; D013997:Time Factors