title: Early-stage breast cancer is not associated with the risk of marital dissolution in a large prospective study of women.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  As breast cancer and its treatment are likely to interfere with traditional expectations of womanhood, it may affect marital stability.
  
  
  METHODS
  The risk of marital dissolution was analysed with respect to diagnosis of early-stage (T1-4N0-3M0) breast cancer in a cohort of 134 435 married Finnish women followed for a median of 17.0 married years. Age, socioeconomic status, education, number of children, duration of marriage and earlier marriages were taken into account and the effects of surgery, chemotherapy, radiotherapy and endocrine therapy were analysed separately.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Women with a diagnosis of early-stage breast cancer did not show increase in marital dissolution (hazard ratio=0.96, 95% confidence interval=0.79-1.17). Neither the type of surgical procedure nor any of the oncologic treatments was associated with an increase in the risk of divorce.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Any evidence of excess risk of marital breakdown after the diagnosis of early-stage breast cancer and its treatment was not demonstrated.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Clinical Medicne, P.O. Box 22, FIN-00014, Universty of Helsinki, Finland.
authors.forename: V S
authors.initials: VS
authors.lastname: Laitala
authors.affiliation: Institute of Clinical Medicne, P.O. Box 22, FIN-00014, Universty of Helsinki, Finland.
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Saarto
authors.affiliation: Population Research Unit, Department of Social Research, University of Helsinki, P.O. Box 18, FIN-00014 Helsinki, Finland.
authors.forename: E K
authors.initials: EK
authors.lastname: Einiö
authors.affiliation: Institute of Clinical Medicne, P.O. Box 22, FIN-00014, Universty of Helsinki, Finland.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Martikainen
authors.affiliation: Population Research Unit, Department of Social Research, University of Helsinki, P.O. Box 18, FIN-00014 Helsinki, Finland.
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Silventoinen
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D004243:Divorce / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005191:Family Characteristics; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D017533:Marital Status / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D008408:Mastectomy / Q000379:methods / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D008875:Middle Aged; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D012307:Risk Factors