Risk perceptions and psychosocial outcomes of women with ductal carcinoma in situ: longitudinal results from a cohort study.
BACKGROUND
Ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) has a generally favorable overall prognosis, with a systemic recurrence rate of approximately 1%, a local recurrence rate after mastectomy of 1%, and a local recurrence rate after breast-conserving treatment of less than 10%. Preliminary studies have suggested that women with DCIS may overestimate their risk of disease recurrence. Few data exist regarding psychosocial outcomes for women with DCIS.


METHODS
Women in Eastern Massachusetts with newly diagnosed DCIS were asked to participate in a longitudinal study of risk perceptions, psychosocial concerns, and health behaviors. Psychosocial outcomes after DCIS diagnosis and risk perceptions were evaluated at enrollment and at 9 and 18 months. All statistical tests were two-sided.


RESULTS
Four hundred eighty-seven women with DCIS (64% of eligible participants) completed the enrollment survey. Overall quality of life was good among the women surveyed, and the substantial anxiety at enrollment decreased with time (P < .001). At enrollment, 54% perceived at least a moderate risk for DCIS recurrence in the next 5 years, 68% in their lifetime; 39% perceived at least a moderate risk for invasive cancer in the next 5 years, 53% in their lifetime; and 28% perceived at least a moderate likelihood of DCIS spreading to other places in their body. At 18 months after enrollment, perceived risks had not statistically significantly changed from those at enrollment (P = .38). Anxiety at enrollment was the factor that was most consistently and strongly associated with overestimation of future breast cancer-related risks (perceived moderate or greater risk vs less than moderate risk of DCIS recurring within 5 years: odds ratio [OR] = 4.0, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.6 to 9.9, P = .003; of invasive breast cancer within 5 years: OR = 4.3, 95% CI = 1.9 to 9.9, P < .001; and of invasive breast cancer during lifetime: OR = 5.3, 95% CI = 2.0 to 14.3, P < .001).


CONCLUSIONS
Many women with newly diagnosed DCIS have inaccurate perceptions of the breast cancer risks that they face, and anxiety is particularly associated with these inaccurate perceptions.
Partridge
Ann
A
Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, 44 Binney St, Boston, MA 02115, USA. ahpartridge@partners.org
Adloff
Kristie
K
Blood
Emily
E
Dees
E Claire
EC
Kaelin
Carolyn
C
Golshan
Mehra
M
Ligibel
Jennifer
J
de Moor
Janet S
JS
Weeks
Jane
J
Emmons
Karen
K
Winer
Eric
E
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001007:Anxiety / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology*; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy; D002285:Carcinoma, Intraductal, Noninfiltrating / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003863:Depression / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008327:Mammography; D008403:Mass Screening; D008404:Massachusetts / Q000453:epidemiology; D008875:Middle Aged; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / Q000453:epidemiology*; D016017:Odds Ratio; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011379:Prognosis; D011788:Quality of Life; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012307:Risk Factors