Coping in Women With Breast Cancer Awaiting a Surgical Intervention: A Cross-Sectional Study

Abstract

Breast cancer affects a woman’s body and mind in complex ways and is more than just a physical condition that requires medical treatment. To investigate how women with breast cancer undergoing surgical treatment cope with and adjust to the disease. A cross-sectional study between April 12 and July 22, 2022. This study adhered to the Strengthening the Reporting of Observational Studies in Epidemiology (STROBE) guidelines. A total of 125 women participated (median age 52). Most (64.8%) responded rationally, 25.4% emotionally, and 9.8% nonprevailing. About 76.2% used problem-focused coping. Women living with others had better adaptation than those alone. Emotional appraisal increased the likelihood of poor adaptation compared to rational appraisal. Nonprevailing coping was linked to a 6-fold increase in psychosocial maladjustment (OR, 5.88; 95% CI,1.14-30.30). The study indicates that women with breast cancer tend to adopt problem-focused coping strategies, with rational responses correlating with better psychological adaptation outcomes, while emotional or nonprevailing responses may lead to poorer adjustment. Coping strategies should be shared by oncology nurses with targeted women, especially if their potential for postdiagnosis positive psychological change is considered. Women diagnosed with breast cancer eligible for surgical treatment may undergo a positive psychological transformation, as the majority exhibit a problem-focused, rational approach to the disease.