| Abstract: | Examined characteristics that might relate to quality of life in postmastectomy patients with operable breast cancer. 113 women who had been treated for breast cancer during 3.5 yrs preceding the study were surveyed. 53 Ss had received mastectomies alone. The remaining 60 Ss, who had shown some spread of disease to the lymph nodes only, received long-term, prophylactic chemotherapy as an adjunct to mastectomy. Analyses indicated that level of cancer-specific denial was the variable most strongly associated with postmastectomy distress. This coping strategy was more important in explaining distress than were availability of social support, treatment group, time since operation, or age. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved) |
