title: Symptoms of hormonal therapy and social support: Is there a connection? Comparison of symptom severity, symptom interference and social support among breast cancer patients receiving and not receiving adjuvant hormonal treatment.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Although there has been a significant reduction in mortality, breast cancer is the most frequent cancer among women worldwide. This decline in mortality has created a significant survivor population that must manage the post curative treatment phase, in order to have an increased quality of life and well-being. This study examined the relationship between symptom interference and severity with the perception of social support in the lives of women receiving or not receiving, hormonal therapy after initial treatment.
  
  
  METHODS
  Participants completed symptom severity and interference questionnaires, (MDASI and BCPT), a social support survey (MSPSS) and demographic and comorbidity questionnaires.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of the 210 women participants, higher symptom severity correlated with unemployment, living alone or being religious. Participants who were currently taking hormonal treatment (n = 84), reported a significant negative correlation between symptom severity, measured by MDASI, and social support (p = 0.006). Consequently, as symptom severity increased, perceived social support decreased. In the BCPT assessment, decreased cognitive functioning (p < 0.05), pain (p < 0.05), bladder dysfunction (p = 0.001), and reduced self-image (p < 0.01) were significantly negatively correlated with social support for those participants currently taking hormonal therapy. Participants who had not previously received hormonal therapy (n = 64), cognitive dysfunction and bladder dysfunction were negatively correlated with social support. Women with preexisting heart or pulmonary dysfunction and arthritis reported statistically significant higher levels of symptom severity and decreased perceptions of social support.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Identifying socio-demographic variables and comorbidities that affect hormonal therapy symptom burden is essential for offering adequate support for breast cancer survivors.
authors.affiliation: Radiotherapy Unit and Oncology Clinic, Hadassah Medical Organization, Jerusalem, Israel. Electronic address: leao@hadassah.org.il.
authors.forename: Lea
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Ochayon
authors.affiliation: Henrietta Szold Hadassah Hebrew University School of Nursing, Jerusalem, Israel; Hadassah Medical Organization, Jerusalem, Israel.
authors.forename: Rina
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Tunin
authors.affiliation: Aviva Research Institute, Israel.
authors.forename: Aviva
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Yoselis
authors.affiliation: Henrietta Szold Hadassah Hebrew University School of Nursing, Jerusalem, Israel; Hadassah Medical Organization, Jerusalem, Israel.
authors.forename: Ilana
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Kadmon
mesh_terms: D000203:Activities of Daily Living / Q000523:psychology*; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy*; D017024:Chemotherapy, Adjuvant; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D011788:Quality of Life / Q000523:psychology*; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D012944:Social Support; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D017741:Survivors / Q000523:psychology*
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents
keywords: Breast cancer; Hormonal treatment; Social support; Sociodemographic variables; Survivors; Symptom severity