Breast cancer survivor: psychological intervention improves outcomes
Surviving breast cancer is a big victory. But it comes with a lot of psychological stress, reduced quality of life, and the constant threat of relapse. Health experts believe that postcancer care and follow-up for breast cancer survivors should include psychological intervention that would address the previously mentioned issues.
Researchers at the Ohio State University in Columbus and at the Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center compared women had breast cancer, and randomly received either a psychological intervention or standard assessment during posttreatment and were followed up for about 11 years.
Psychological intervention included the following clinical objectives for patients:
The study results showed that women who underwent psychological therapy have a 45% reduction in recurrent rates. A follow-up study also showed that these women had a 59% reduction in the risk of dying of breast cancer.
According to lead researcher Barbara L. Andersen
The study results suggest that postcancer follow-up treatments should not only address the physical effects of cancer but the psychological impact of the disease that has some long-term consequences. The psychological stress of cancer leads to disruptions in quality of life, health behaviors and immunity, and all these contribute to poorer health outcomes of cancer patients. Providing psychological intervention can help reduce the risk for recurrence and mortality due to breast cancer.
According to Dr. Sarah Gehlert of The Brown School, Washington University, St. Louis:
Researchers are hopeful that these results can help not only breast cancer survivors but survivors of other cancers.
