Elsevier

The Lancet

Volume 314, Issue 8146, 13 October 1979, Pages 785-787
The Lancet

Point of View
PSYCHOLOGICAL RESPONSE TO BREAST CANCER: EFFECT ON OUTCOME

https://doi.org/10.1016/S0140-6736(79)92127-5Get rights and content

Abstract

A prospective, multidisciplinary, 5-year study of 69 consecutive female patients with early (T0,1 N0,1 M0) breast cancer was conducted. Patients' psychological responses to the diagnosis of cancer were assessed 3 months postoperatively. These responses were related to outcome 5 years after operation. Recurrence-free survival was significantly common among patients who had initially reacted to cancer by denial or who had a fighting spirit than among patients who had responded with stoic acceptance or feelings of helplessness and hopelessness.

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