T Giraldi1, M G Rodani, G Cartei, L Grassi. 1. Department of Biomedical Sciences and Technologies, University of Udine, Italy. giraldi@cc.uniud.it
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Over the last 20 years contradictory results have been obtained as regards to the role of psychosocial factors in favouring the onset of breast cancer and/or in influencing disease progression. METHODS: The present study prospectively investigated the association between psychosocial variables and breast cancer in 95 out-patients. Within 3 months from the diagnosis the patients completed a series of questionnaires to evaluate psychological disturbances, emotional repression, adjustment to cancer, social support and occurrence of life events in the past. At a distance of 6 years from the first assessment, the patients' charts were re-examined in order to evaluate the course of cancer. RESULTS: A higher volume of primary tumour at surgery was shown in patients who had had stressful events in the 6 months preceding cancer diagnosis. At follow-up, no relationship was found between psychosocial variables and the course of disease. The analysis of the frequency of relapses and deaths, and the survival analysis indicated that positivity of loco-regional lymph nodes, infiltrating histotype of the tumour and tumour stage were the only significant predictors of the time of death. CONCLUSIONS: The study suggests that clinical and biological rather than psychosocial factors exert a major role in breast cancer progression.
BACKGROUND: Over the last 20 years contradictory results have been obtained as regards to the role of psychosocial factors in favouring the onset of breast cancer and/or in influencing disease progression. METHODS: The present study prospectively investigated the association between psychosocial variables and breast cancer in 95 out-patients. Within 3 months from the diagnosis the patients completed a series of questionnaires to evaluate psychological disturbances, emotional repression, adjustment to cancer, social support and occurrence of life events in the past. At a distance of 6 years from the first assessment, the patients' charts were re-examined in order to evaluate the course of cancer. RESULTS: A higher volume of primary tumour at surgery was shown in patients who had had stressful events in the 6 months preceding cancer diagnosis. At follow-up, no relationship was found between psychosocial variables and the course of disease. The analysis of the frequency of relapses and deaths, and the survival analysis indicated that positivity of loco-regional lymph nodes, infiltrating histotype of the tumour and tumour stage were the only significant predictors of the time of death. CONCLUSIONS: The study suggests that clinical and biological rather than psychosocial factors exert a major role in breast cancer progression.