title: Women with breast cancer: self-reported distress in early survivorship.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To identify and compare levels of distress and sources of problems among patients with breast cancer in early survivorship.
  
  
  METHODS
  Descriptive, cross-sectional.
  
  
  METHODS
  A National Cancer Institute-designated comprehensive cancer center.
  
  
  METHODS
  100 breast cancer survivors were selected to represent four time points in the cancer trajectory.
  
  
  METHODS
  Distress was self-reported using the Distress Thermometer and its 38-item problem list. Analysis of variance and chi-square analyses were performed as appropriate.
  
  
  METHODS
  Distress scores, problem reports, and time groups.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Participants scored in range of the cutoff of more than 4 (range = 4.1-5.1) from treatment through three months post-treatment. At six months post-treatment, distress levels were significantly lower. Significant differences were found between groups on the total problem list score (p = 0.007) and emotional (p = 0.01) and physical subscale scores (p = 0.003).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Comparison of groups at different points in the cancer trajectory found similar elevated levels from diagnosis through three months. Distress remained elevated in early survivorship but significantly decreased at six months post-treatment.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Interventions to reduce or prevent distress may improve outcomes in early survivorship.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center in Columbus.
authors.forename: Joanne
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Lester
authors.affiliation: College of Nursing, Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center-Arthur G. James Cancer Hospital.
authors.forename: Kara
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Crosthwaite
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center in Columbus.
authors.forename: Robin
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Stout
authors.affiliation: College of Nursing, Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center-Arthur G. James Cancer Hospital.
authors.forename: Rachel N
authors.initials: RN
authors.lastname: Jones
authors.affiliation: Department of Statistics, Statistical Consulting Service.
authors.forename: Christopher
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Holloman
authors.affiliation: College of Medicine.
authors.forename: Charles
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Shapiro
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, Ohio State University in Columbus.
authors.forename: Barbara L
authors.initials: BL
authors.lastname: Andersen
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000150:complications / Q000401:mortality* / Q000523:psychology*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D057566:Self Report; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000209:etiology*; D015996:Survival Rate
keywords: breast cancer; distress; screening; survivorship