Patient and family caregiver reaction to new and recurrent breast cancer.

Exploratory data on the mental health (depression), symptoms, and functional status of breast cancer patients and the mental health (depression) and reaction to care of their caregivers are examined in this paper. How both are influenced by new and recurrent disease is also reported. Patients and family caregivers were followed over a six-month period to determine whether new or recurrent disease status altered their reaction to the cancer experience. The data suggest that psychological distress may be more marked in the family member than in the patient. Differences in caregiver reaction were not due to new or recurrent disease status, health status of the patient, or the care process of the caregiver. Future research is needed to isolate the cause of variations in mental health of women and their family caregivers experiencing new or recurrent breast cancer.