title: Loss of partner and breast cancer prognosis - a population-based study, Denmark, 1994-2010.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The extent to which experiencing a stressful life event influences breast cancer prognosis remains unknown, as the findings of the few previous epidemiological studies are inconsistent. This large population-based study examines the association between a common major life event, loss of a partner and breast cancer recurrence and all-cause mortality.
  
  
  METHODS
  N=21,213 women diagnosed with a first primary breast cancer 1994-2006, who had a cohabiting partner in the 4 years before their breast cancer diagnosis, were followed for death and recurrence in population-based registers and clinical databases. Information on education, disposable income, comorbidity and prognostic risk factors were included in Cox regression analyses.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Women who had lost a partner either before diagnosis or in subsequent years were not at significantly higher risk of recurrence or dying than women who had not lost a partner.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our results do not support the concern that experiencing a stressful life event, the loss of a partner, negatively affects prognosis of breast cancer.
authors.affiliation: Survivorship, Danish Cancer Society Research Center, Copenhagen, Denmark. majols@cancer.dk
authors.forename: M H
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Olsen
authors.forename: P E
authors.initials: PE
authors.lastname: Bidstrup
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Frederiksen
authors.forename: N H
authors.initials: NH
authors.lastname: Rod
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Grønbaek
authors.forename: S O
authors.initials: SO
authors.lastname: Dalton
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Johansen
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000401:mortality / Q000523:psychology*; D003718:Denmark / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008016:Life Change Events; D008875:Middle Aged; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000401:mortality / Q000523:psychology*; D011379:Prognosis; D012042:Registries; D012307:Risk Factors; D015996:Survival Rate