Coping and adaptation in breast cancer patients at the follow-up stage

Several cancer studies have shown that some coping strategies are associated with better psychosocial adjustment and emotional status. The aim of this study was to determine the coping strategies used by women with breast cancer in the follow up phase and to assess the relationships between coping strategies and psychosocial adaptation. Sixty nine women with breast cancer were interviewed attending a standard follow-up protocol in the oncology outpatient unit. Three questionnaires were used to measure coping and adaptation to illness: Coping Strategies Questionnaire, Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale, Psychosocial Adjustment to Illness Scale, Cluster analysis identified three clusters with different coping strategies. Findings showed that women belonging to the high cognitive approach coping cluster were significantly better adjusted than women in the remaining clusters. Blaming ethers and self blame were less frequently used by women, albeit having the strongest negative relationships with same psychosocial adaptation areas. Professionals efforts of should be aimed at enhancing a cognitive coping approach and reducing women s blame for having cancer.