Social support and immune status during and after chemotherapy for breast cancer.
Social support and immune status were assessed in women treated with adjuvant chemotherapy for breast cancer. Perception of enhanced attachment was associated with an increased number of white blood cell levels three months after, but not during, chemotherapy. After treatment, patients with high attachment ratings had higher numbers and proportions of granulocytes, and lower proportions of lymphocytes and monocytes. It is concluded that the support experienced by a cancer patient can be associated with counts and proportions of leukocytes, but that this effect, if present during chemotherapy, is overridden by the biological factor that affects the haematopoetic process.
Lekander
M
M
Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden.
Fürst
C J
CJ
Rotstein
S
S
Blomgren
H
H
Fredrikson
M
M
D000367:Age Factors; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology* / Q000523:psychology / Q000601:surgery; D017024:Chemotherapy, Adjuvant; D003602:Cytotoxicity, Immunologic; D005260:Female; D006098:Granulocytes / Q000473:pathology; D006410:Hematopoiesis / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D007398:Interpersonal Relations; D007958:Leukocyte Count; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation / Q000276:immunology; D018655:Lymphocyte Count; D016131:Lymphocyte Subsets / Q000473:pathology; D008875:Middle Aged; D009000:Monocytes / Q000473:pathology; D012917:Social Adjustment; D012944:Social Support; D013997:Time Factors