Recovery in early stage breast cancer—An Australian longitudinal study

Background
The majority of breast cancer patients will experience some level of emotional distress, with some patients having long-term psychological maladjustment. Personal and social resources play a role in recovery yet the interplay between these factors warrants further examination. This study aimed to investigate the interaction of psychosocial factors impacting women in their breast cancer trajectory, at 2 years or less following diagnosis (stages I-III).

Design
A longitudinal cohort study approach was used in this study.

Methods
The sample consisted of n = 49 participants. Data were collected between June 2013 and October 2013 and followed for 12 months across the trajectory of the disease.

Results
The mean age was 56.6 years (SD 11.6 years). Most participants had stage I or stage II breast cancer. Time (over three time points—4 weeks, 6 months, and 12 months) after diagnosis was significantly associated with the body image (P = .003) and age (P = .004).

Conclusion
Older women with breast cancer reported less concern regarding body image than their younger peers. These findings suggest that posttreatment younger women may require access to psychological support posttreatment.