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Dependable social relationships predict overall survival in Stages II and III breast carcinoma patients

2005; Elsevier BV; Volume: 59; Issue: 5 Linguagem: Inglês

10.1016/j.jpsychores.2004.12.002

1879-1360

Karen L. Weihs, Samuel J. Simmens, Joan Mizrahi, Timothy M. Enright, Martha E. Hunt, Robert S. Siegel,

Childhood Cancer Survivors' Quality of Life

The effect of support, from dependable non-household relationships, on breast cancer progression was studied using a prospective, longitudinal design. Dependable social support was assessed in women with invasive breast carcinoma Stages II and III within 18 months after diagnosis. Disease outcome was monitored for 8 to 9 years. Cox regression analyses, including the Nottingham Prognostic Index (NPI) score of disease severity, tested the association between the number of dependable support persons and time to death. Ninety participants listed between 1 and 16 dependable nonhousehold support persons (mean=6, S.D.=4). There were 21 recurrences and 16 deaths from breast cancer at the end of the study. The number of dependable supports predicted decreased mortality [RR=0.41 (0.21–0.80), P=.01] after controlling for NPI. NPI predicted increased mortality [RR=1.6 (1.0, 2.4), P=.05]. For patients with Stages II and III breast cancer, the number of dependable, nonhousehold relationships predicts decreased mortality, after accounting for disease severity.