Abstract
Background: The extent to which experiencing a stressful life event influences breast cancer prognosis remains unknown, as the findings of the few previous epidemiological studies are inconsistent. This large population-based study examines the association between a common major life event, loss of a partner and breast cancer recurrence and all-cause mortality. Methods: N21 213 women diagnosed with a first primary breast cancer 1994-2006, who had a cohabiting partner in the 4 years before their breast cancer diagnosis, were followed for death and recurrence in population-based registers and clinical databases. Information on education, disposable income, comorbidity and prognostic risk factors were included in Cox regression analyses. Results: Women who had lost a partner either before diagnosis or in subsequent years were not at significantly higher risk of recurrence or dying than women who had not lost a partner. Conclusion: Our results do not support the concern that experiencing a stressful life event, the loss of a partner, negatively affects prognosis of breast cancer.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Journal | B J C |
| Volume | 106 |
| Issue number | 9 |
| Pages (from-to) | 1560-3 |
| Number of pages | 4 |
| ISSN | 0007-0920 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - 24 Apr 2012 |
Keywords
- Adult
- Aged
- Breast Neoplasms
- Denmark
- Female
- Follow-Up Studies
- Humans
- Life Change Events
- Middle Aged
- Neoplasm Recurrence, Local
- Prognosis
- Registries
- Risk Factors
- Survival Rate
