title: [Partnership and cancer: do cancer patients and their partners experience changes in their relationship affected by the disease - can a secondary or tertiary gain of illness be observed?].
abstract: This work is to study the changes in the partnership during cancer and identify a possible secondary or tertiary disease profit. Thirty-two patients and their partners (n = 64) participated. 84% of patients experience a change in the partner relationship in a positive direction. The increased support through their partner let the patient's situation improve in terms of secondary gain of illness. 69% of patients reported that their partners take on more tasks. 37% of patients with malignant diseases, especially those with hematologic systemic diseases, are trying to protect their partners from additional burdens. 76% of all patients experience more support from the social network. 88% of patients experience the disease to change their view on the meaning of life. Since the majority of patients indicate a positive change in the partner relationship and an increased acquisition of tasks by the partners, our investigation, could confirm the theory of secondary gain, but not the tertiary disease earnings.
authors.affiliation: 5. Medizinische Abteilung mit Onkologie und Palliativstation, Krankenhaus Hietzing, Wien, Austria. andrea.kier@aon.at
authors.forename: Andrea
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kier
authors.forename: Sabine
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kral
authors.forename: Birgit
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Kirchner
authors.forename: Klaus
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Geissler
mesh_terms: D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000328:Adult; D017281:Cost of Illness; D003674:Defense Mechanisms; D005260:Female; D019337:Hematologic Neoplasms / Q000523:psychology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008393:Marriage / Q000523:psychology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009042:Motivation; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000523:psychology*; D026684:Personal Autonomy; D012944:Social Support; D018454:Spouses / Q000523:psychology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires