title: The meaning of breast cancer.
abstract: Breast cancer patients' perception of illness could influence preferences in decision-making. According to Lipowsky, the meaning of illness might influence coping abilities and he suggests eight categories of meaning as prevalent in our culture: 'challenge', 'enemy', 'punishment', 'weakness', 'irreparable loss', 'relief', 'strategy' and 'value'. In this study 187 Swedish breast cancer patients chose one of these eight categories as their meaning of breast cancer. 'Challenge' was chosen most often, by 33% of all patients and by 40% of patients in middle life (51-65 years). Older patients (> or = 66 years) chose 'challenge' less frequently (17%) but chose 'relief', 'strategy' or 'value' more often than younger patients. The few patients with metastatic disease chose 'enemy', 'punishment', 'weakness' and 'irreparable loss' more often than patients in the earlier stages of disease. There were differences in perception of illness depending on patients' age and stage of disease but not depending on their preferences in decision-making.
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Oncology, Radiumhemmet, Karolinska Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden. Birgitta.Wallberg@ks.se
authors.forename: Birgitta
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Wallberg
authors.forename: Helena
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Michelson
authors.forename: Marianne
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Nystedt
authors.forename: Christina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Bolund
authors.forename: Lesley
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Degner
authors.forename: Nils
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Wilking
mesh_terms: D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D001294:Attitude to Health; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000473:pathology / Q000523:psychology*; D004522:Educational Status; D005260:Female; D006266:Health Education; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D010358:Patient Participation; D018434:Sickness Impact Profile; D013997:Time Factors