Skip to main content

Psychological aspects of breast cancer

  • Chapter
Breast Cancer Nursing

Abstract

The psychosocial and ethical aspects of patient care are of great importance when nursing women who have, or fear they have, breast cancer. It is a particularly emotive subject and has come to be seen as an important topic by the media: breast cancer makes ‘good’ headlines. Unfortunately, reports on breast cancer issues are sometimes presented in a ‘sensationalized’ way and thus contribute to the psychosocial problems faced by patients and those who seek to care for them.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 39.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD 54.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

Preview

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

References

  • Anderson, J. (1988) Facing up to mastectomy. Nursing Times, 84, 36–9.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Anderson, J. (1989) The nurse’s role in cancer rehabilitation. Review of the literature. Cancer Nursing, 12(2), 85–94.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Badwe, R., Gregory, W., Chaudary, M. et al. (1991) Timing of the menstrual cycle and survival of pre-menopausal women with operable breast cancer. The Lancet, 1261–4.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bagenal, F., Easton, D., Harris, E. et al. (1990) Survival of patients with breast cancer attending Bristol Cancer Help Centre. The Lancet, 606–8.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bard, M. and Sutherland, A. (1952) Psychologial impact of cancer and its treatment (iv) Adaptation to radical mastectomy. Cancer, 8, 652–72.

    Google Scholar 

  • Barraclough, J., Pinder, P., Cruddas, M. et al. (1992) Life events and breast cancer prognosis. British Medical Journal, 304, 1078–81.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Beaver, K., Luter, K., Leinster, S., Owens, R. (1994) Preferences for information and decision making in women newly diagnosed with breast cancer. Report to the Research in Cancer Nursing Conference, King’s College, London.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bloom, J. (1982) Social support, accommodation to stress and adjustment to breast cancer. Social Science and Medicine, 16, 1329–38.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Bond, S. (1982) Communications in Cancer Nursing, in Cancer Nursing (ed. M. Cahoon), Churchill-Livingstone, London.

    Google Scholar 

  • Breast Care and Mastectomy Association (1991) Annual Report, Breast Care and Mastectomy Association, London.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bridges, L., Benson, L., Pietroni, P. and Priest, C. (1988) Relaxation and imagery in the treatment of breast cancer. British Medical Journal, 291, 1169–72.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Brohn, P. (1987) The Bristol Programme. An introduction to the holistic therapies practised by the Bristol cancer help centre, Century, London.

    Google Scholar 

  • Burnard, P. and Chapman, C. (1988) Professional and Ethical Issues in Nursing. The Code of Professional Conduct, John Wiley & Sons, Chichester.

    Google Scholar 

  • Cancer Relief Macmillan Fund (1994) Breast Cancer. How to help yourself C.R.M.F.

    Google Scholar 

  • Cassileth, B., Lusk, E. and Strousse, T. (1985) A psychological analysis of cancer patients and their next of kin. Cancer, 55, 72–6.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Cawley, M., Kostic, J. and Cappello, C. (1990) Information and psychosocial needs of women choosing conservative surgery/primary radiation for early stage breast cancer. Cancer Nursing, 13, February, 90–4.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Clyne, R. (1989) Cancer — Your Life, Your Choice, Thorsons, Wellingborough.

    Google Scholar 

  • Consensus Development Conference; Treatment of Primary Breast Cancer (1986) British Medical Journal, 293, 946–7.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Cotton, T., Locker, A., Jackson, L. et al. (1991) A prospective study of patient choice in treatment for primary breast cancer. European Journal of Surgical Oncology, 17, 115–17.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Dean, C. (1987) Psychiatric morbidity following mastectomy. Journal of Psychosomatic Research, 31, 385–92.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Degner, L. and Sloan, J. (1992) Decision making during serious illness: what role do patients really want to play? Journal of Clinical Epidemiology, 45(9), 941–50.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Denton, S. and Baum, M. (1982) Can we predict which women will fail to cope with mastectomy? Clinical Oncology, 8, 375–9.

    Google Scholar 

  • De Haes, J., Knippenberg, F., Neift, J. (1990) Measuring psychological and physical distress in cancer patients: structure and application of the Rotterdam Sympton Check test. British Journal of Cancer, 62, 1034–8.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Department of Health (1990) A guide to consent for examination or treatment, HMSO, London.

    Google Scholar 

  • Department of Health (1994) Consultative Document. A Policy Framework for Commissioning Cancer Services, H.M.S.O.

    Google Scholar 

  • Fallowfield, L. (1990) The Quality of Life. The missing measurement in health care, Human horizons series, Souvenir Press, London.

    Google Scholar 

  • Fallowfield, L. (1991) Breast Cancer, Routledge, London.

    Google Scholar 

  • Fallowfield, L., Baum, M. and Maguire, G.P. (1986) Effects of breast conservation on psychological morbidity associated with diagnosis and treatment of early breast cancer. British Medical Journal, 293, 1331–4.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Fallowfield, L., Hall, A., Maguire, G.P. and Baum, M. (1990) Psychological outcomes of different treatment policies in women with early breast cancer outside a clinical trial. British Medical Journal, 301, 575–80.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Faulder, C. (1985) Whose body is it? The Troubling Issue of Informed Consent, Virago, London.

    Google Scholar 

  • Faulkner, A. (1980) The student nurse’s role in giving information to patients. University of Aberdeen M. Litt. Thesis.

    Google Scholar 

  • Faulkner, A. (1986) Talking to patients. Human Interest. Nursing Times, 82(33), 33–5.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Faulkner, A. and Maguire, G.P. (1984) Teaching assessment skills, in Recent Advances in Nursing 7. Communication (ed. A. Faulkner) Churchill Livingstone, Edinburgh.

    Google Scholar 

  • Faulkner, A. and Maguire, G.P. (1990) Assessing cancer patients in the community, in Oncology (ed. A. Faulkner), Scutari press, London.

    Google Scholar 

  • Feinman, J. (1989) Consent on Trial. Nursing Times.84(44), 20.

    Google Scholar 

  • Fentiman, I. and Mansel, R. (1991) The axilla: not a no-go zone. The Lancet, 337, 221–3.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • George, D. (1990) An existential perspective on the anxiety inherent in the role of the clinical nurse specialist in breast cancer. Department of Psychology, Antioch University, London, MA thesis.

    Google Scholar 

  • Gorzynski, J. (1982) Depression in cancer patients: prevalence, diagnosis and psychotropic drug management. Current Concepts in Psychosocial Oncology, Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Centre, New York.

    Google Scholar 

  • Graydon, J. (1982) Aspects of Breast Cancer, in Cancer Nursing (ed. M.C. Cahoon), Churchill-Livingstone, Edinburgh.

    Google Scholar 

  • Greer, S. (1990) Fighting spirit as a prognostic variable in cancer. British Journal of Hospital Medicine (Conference supplement: Cancer and the mind), 22–3.

    Google Scholar 

  • Greer, S., Moorey, S., Baruch, J. et al. (1992) Adjuvant psychological therapy for patients with cancer: a prospective randomised trial. British Medical Journal, 304, 675–80.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Greer, S. and Watson, M. (1987) Mental adjustment to cancer, its measurement and prognostic importance. Cancer Surveys, 6, 439–53.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Halls, A., Fallowfield, L., Baum, M., Maguire, P., A’Hern, R. (1994) Psychological impact on recurrent breast cancer. Report of the British Psychosocial Oncology Group Conference. December.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hogbin, B. and Fallowfield, L. (1989) Getting it taped: the ‘bad news’ consultation with cancer patients. British Journal of Hospital Medicine, 41, 330–3.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Hopwood, P. (1984) Measurement of psychological morbidity in cancer, in Psychosocial issues in malignant disease (eds M. Watson and S. Greer), Pergamon Press, Oxford.

    Google Scholar 

  • House of Commons (1991) A breast care nurse in every health district, health board and screening assessment centre. Early day motion.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hughes, J. (1986) Depression in cancer patients, in Coping with Cancer Stress (ed. B. Stoll), Martinus Nijhoff, Chichester.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hughes, J. (1987) Cancer and emotion, John Wiley & Sons, Chichester.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hughson, A., Cooper, A., McArdle, C. and Smith, D. (1987) Psychological impact of adjuvant chemotherapy in the first two years after mastectomy. British Medical Journal, 293, 1265–71.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ireland, J. (1987) Life wish, Century, London.

    Google Scholar 

  • Issel, M., Erseck, M. and Lewis, F. (1990) How children cope with mother’s breast cancer. Oncology Nursing Forum.17(3), supplement, 5–12.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Kennedy, E. (1989) Crisis Counselling, Gill and Macmillan, Southampton.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kfir, N. (1989) Crisis Intervention Verbatim, Hemisphere, London.

    Google Scholar 

  • Knopf, A. (1974) Cancer. Changes in opinion after seven years of public education in Lancaster, Manchester Regional Committee Report.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lewis, F., Ellison, E. and Woods, N. (1985) The impact of breast cancer on the family. Seminars Oncology Nursing, 3, 206–13.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ley, P. (1979) Memory and medicine information. British Journal of Social and Clinical Psychology, 8, 245–55.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lorde, A. (1980) The Cancer Journals, Sheba Feminist Publishers, London.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lucas, D., Maguire, G.P. and Reason, J. (1987) Predicting psychiatric morbidity in women with breast cancer. Report of the North West Regional Health Authority, Manchester.

    Google Scholar 

  • Macleod Clarke, J. (1982) Nurse-patient verbal interaction. University of London PhD thesis.

    Google Scholar 

  • Macleod Clarke, J., Hopper, L. and Jesson, A. (1991) Progression to counselling. Nursing Times.87(8), 41–3.

    Google Scholar 

  • Maguire, G.P. (1976) The Psychological and Social Sequelae of Mastectomy, in Modern Perspectives in the Psychiatric Aspects of Surgery (ed. J. Howells), Churchill-Livingstone, Edinburgh.

    Google Scholar 

  • Maguire, G.P. (1985) Barriers to psychological care of the dying. British Medical Journal, 291, 1711–13.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Maguire, P. (1994) Psychological Aspects in A.B.C. of Breast Diseases, British Medical Journal, 309, 1649–52.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Maguire, G.P., Brooke, M., Tait, A. et al. (1983) The effect of counselling on physical disability and social recovery after mastectomy. Clinical Oncology, 9, 319–21.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Maguire, G.P. and Faulkner, A. (1988) How to do it. Improve the counselling skills of doctors and nurses in cancer care. British Medical Journal, 297, 847–9.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Maguire, G.P., Lee, E., Bevingdon, D. et al. (1978) Psychiatric problems in the first year after mastectomy. British Medical Journal, 1, 963–5.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Maguire, G.P., Pentol, A., Allen, D. et al. (1982) Cost of counselling women who undergo mastectomy. British Medical Journal, 284, 1933–5.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Maguire, G.P., Tait, A., Brooke, M. et al. (1980a). The effects of counselling on the psychiatric morbidity associated with mastectomy. British Medical Journal, 281, 1454–6.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Maguire, G.P., Tait, A., Brooke, M. et al. (1980b) Psychiatric morbidity and physical toxicity associated with adjuvant chemotherapy after mastectomy. British Medical Journal, ii, 1179–80.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Maguire, G.P. and Seilwood, R. (1982) A liaison psychiatry service for mastectomy patients in A Handbook of Liaison Psychiatry (eds F. Creed and J. Pfeffer), Pitman Medical, London.

    Google Scholar 

  • Mantell, J. (1983) Cancer patients visitor programs. A case for accountabilty. Journal of Psychosocial Oncology, 1, 45.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • McCaffrey, D. (1991) Surviving Cancer. Nursing Times, 87(32), 26–9.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Menzies, I. (1988) A case study of the functioning of social systems as a defence against anxiety. The report on a study of a nursing service of a general hospital, in Containing Anxiety in Institutions (ed. I. Menzies), Free Association Books, London.

    Google Scholar 

  • Miller, M. and Nygren, B. (1978) Living with cancer coping behaviors. Cancer Nursing, 4, 297–302.

    Google Scholar 

  • Morris, J. and Royle, G. (1987) Offering patients a choice of surgery for early breast cancer. A reduction in anxiety and depression in patients and their husbands. Social Science and Medicine, 26(6), 583–5.

    Google Scholar 

  • Morris, T. (1983) Psychosocial Aspects of Breast Cancer; a Review. European Journal of Clinical Oncology, 19(12), 1725–33.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Morris, T., Greer, S. and White, P. (1977) Psychological and social adjustment to mastectomy. Cancer, 40, 2381–7.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • National Audit Commission for Local Authorities and the National Health Servicein England and Wales (1993)’ What seems to be the matter?’ Communication between hospitals and patients, HMSO.

    Google Scholar 

  • Northouse, L. (1990) A longitudinal study of the adjustment of patients and husbands to breast cancer. The Oncology Nursing Forum, 17(3), supplement, 39–43.

    Google Scholar 

  • O’Connor, (1990) Understanding the cancer patient’s search for meaning. Cancer Nursing, 13(3), 167–75.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Peck, A. and Boland, J. (1977) Emotional reactions to radiation treatment. Cancer, 40, 180–4.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Penman, D., Bloom, J., Fotopouloss, S. et al. (1988) The impact of mastectomy on self concept and social function, a combined cross sectional and longitudinal study with comparison groups, in Women and Cancer (ed. S. Stellman), The Howarth Press, London.

    Google Scholar 

  • Peters-Golden, H. (1982) Breast Cancer: varied perceptions of social support in the illness experience. Social Science and Medicine, 16, 483–91.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Pistrong, N. and Barker, C. (1992) Disclosures of Concerns in Breast Cancer. Psychooncology, 1(3), 183–92.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Plumb, M. and Holland, J. (1981) Comparative studies of psychological function in patients with advanced cancer, (ii) Interviewer rated current and past psychiatric symptoms. Psychosomatic Medicine, 43, 243–54.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Prior, S. (1987) Personal View. British Medical Journal, 295, 920.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Quint, J. (1964) Mastectomy — symbol of cure or warning sign? General Practitioner, March, 119–25.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ramirez, A., Craig, T. and Watson, J. (1989) Stress and relapse of breast cancer. British Medical Journal, 298, 291–3.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Raphael, A. (1988) How doctors’ secret trials abused me. The Observer, 9 October, 12.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ray, C. and Baum, M. (1985) Psychological aspects of early breast cancer, Springer- Verlag, New York.

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • RCN Standards (1994) Breast Care Nursing Society Standards of Care, Royal College of Nursing.

    Google Scholar 

  • Roberts, R. and Fallowfield, L. (1990) Who supports the cancer counsellors? Nursing Times 86(36), 32–4.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Rosser, J. (1981) The interpretation of women’s experience; a critical appraisal of the literature on breast cancer. Social Science and Medicine, 15, 257–65.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Rutherford, (1988) Assessing psychosexual needs of women experiencing lumpectomy. Cancer Nursing, 11(4), 244–9.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Silberfarb, P., Maurer, H. and Crouthameal, C. (1980) Psychosocial aspects of neoplastic disease. 1. Functional status of breast cancer patients during different treatment regimes. American Journal of Psychiatry, 1374, 450–5.

    Google Scholar 

  • Smith, P. (1992) The Emotional Labour of Nursing. How nurses care, Macmillan, London.

    Google Scholar 

  • Sontag, S. (1979) Illness as Metaphor, Penguin Books, London.

    Google Scholar 

  • Spiegel, D., Bloom, J., Kraemer, H. and Gottheil, E. (1989) The effect of psychosocial treatment on survival of patients with metastatic breast cancer. The Lancet, 886–91.

    Google Scholar 

  • Tait, A. (1989) Informed consent. Nursing Practice. Nursing Standard (oncology supplement), 36(3), 55.

    Google Scholar 

  • Tait, A. (1990) The Mastectomy Experience, in Feminist Praxis. Research theory and epistimology in feminist sociology (ed. L. Stanley), Routledge, London.

    Google Scholar 

  • Tait, A. (1994) Breast Care Nursing, Report to Cancer Relief Macmillan Fund.

    Google Scholar 

  • Tait, A., Maguire, G., Brook, M. et al. (1982) Improving communication skills. Standardized assessments for mastectomy patients. Nursing Times, 78(51), 2181–4.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Tarrier, N., Maguire, G.P. and Kincey, J. (1984) Treatment of psychological distress following mastectomy; an initial report. Behavioural Research and Therapy, 22, 81.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Trillin, A. (1981) Of dragons and garden peas: a cancer patient talks to doctors. New England Journal of Medicine, 304, 699–701.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Trojan, S. (1989) Benefits of Self Help Groups. Social Science and Medicine, 29(2), 225–32.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Tulman, L. and Fawcett, J. (1990) A framework for studying functional status after diagnosis of breast cancer. Cancer Nursing, 13(2), 95–9.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Vachon, M. and Lyall, W. (1978) Management of stress in health professionals working with advanced cancer patients. Death Education, 1, 365–75.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Watson, M. (1991) Breast Cancer, in Cancer Patient Care, Psychosocial Treatment Methods (ed. M. Watson), British Psychological Society, Cambridge University Press, Cambridge.

    Google Scholar 

  • Watson, M., Denton, S., Baum, M. and Greer, S. (1988) Counselling breast cancer patients — a specialist nurse service. Counselling Psychology Quarterly, 1(1), 23–31.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Weisman, A. (1979) Coping with cancer, McGraw-Hill, New York.

    Google Scholar 

  • Weisman, A., Worden, J. (1977) Coping and vulnerability in cancer patients. Project Omega Report, Department of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School, Boston.

    Google Scholar 

  • Welch-McCaffrey, D. (1985) Evolving patient education needs in cancer. Oncology Nursing Forum, 12, 62–6.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Wellisch, D. (1991) Psychological problems facing daughters of women with breast cancer. Report to the British Psychosocial Oncology Group Annual Conference, December.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wilkinson, S. (1991) Factors which influence how nurses communicate with cancer patients. Journal of Advanced Nursing, 16(6), 677–89.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Wilkinson, S., Maguire, G.P. and Tait, A. (1988) Life after breast cancer. Nursing Times, 84(40), 34–7.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Wilson, R., Hart, A. and Daws, P. (1988) Mastectomy or conservation: the patient’s choice. British Medical Journal, 297, 1167–9.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Wing, J., Cooper, J. and Sartorious, N. (1974) Measurement and classification of psychiatric symptoms, Cambridge University Press, Cambridge.

    Google Scholar 

  • Yasco, J. (1983) Variables which predict burn out experienced by oncology clinical nurse specialists. Cancer Nursing, 6(2), 109–16.

    Google Scholar 

  • Zigmund, A. and Snaith, R. (1983) The hospital anxiety and depression scale. Acta Psychiatrica Scandinavia, 67, 361–70.

    Article  Google Scholar 

Further Reading

  • Fallowfield, L. and Clark, A. (1991) Breast Cancer, Tavistock and Routledge, London.

    Google Scholar 

  • Faulder, D. (1992) Always a woman. A practical guide to living with breast surgery,Thorsons.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hughes, J. (1987) Cancer and Emotion. Psychological Preludes and Reactions to Cancer, John Wiley & Sons, Chichester.

    Google Scholar 

  • Stoll, B. (1986) Coping with Cancer Stress, Martinus Nijhoff, Lancaster.

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • Tarrier, N. (1987) Living with breast cancer and mastectomy. Professional self help guide, Manchester University Press, Manchester.

    Google Scholar 

  • Tschudin, V. (1992) Counselling Skills for Nurses, 3rd edn, Balliere Tindall Ltd., London.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Authors

Editor information

Sylvia Denton

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 1996 Springer Science+Business Media Dordrecht

About this chapter

Cite this chapter

Tait, A. (1996). Psychological aspects of breast cancer. In: Denton, S. (eds) Breast Cancer Nursing. Springer, Boston, MA. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4899-3388-1_2

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4899-3388-1_2

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Boston, MA

  • Print ISBN: 978-0-412-41200-4

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-4899-3388-1

  • eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive

Publish with us

Policies and ethics