Skip Navigation


Annals of Oncology Advance Access originally published online on July 28, 2007
Annals of Oncology 2007 18(10):1641-1645; doi:10.1093/annonc/mdm274
This Article
Right arrow Full Text
Right arrow Full Text (PDF)
Right arrow All Versions of this Article:
18/10/1641    most recent
mdm274v1
Right arrow E-letters: Submit a response
Right arrow Alert me when this article is cited
Right arrow Alert me when E-letters are posted
Right arrow Alert me if a correction is posted
Services
Right arrow Email this article to a friend
Right arrow Similar articles in this journal
Right arrow Similar articles in ISI Web of Science
Right arrow Similar articles in PubMed
Right arrow Alert me to new issues of the journal
Right arrow Add to My Personal Archive
Right arrow Download to citation manager
Right arrowRequest Permissions
Right arrow Disclaimer
Google Scholar
Right arrow Articles by Bresser, P. J. C.
Right arrow Articles by Tibben, A.
Right arrow Search for Related Content
PubMed
Right arrow PubMed Citation
Right arrow Articles by Bresser, P. J. C.
Right arrow Articles by Tibben, A.
Social Bookmarking
Add to CiteULike   Add to Connotea   Add to Del.icio.us  
What's this?

© 2007 European Society for Medical Oncology

breast cancer

Who is prone to high levels of distress after prophylactic mastectomy and/or salpingo-ovariectomy?

P. J. C. Bresser1, A. R. Van Gool2, C. Seynaeve3, H. J. Duivenvoorden1, M. F. Niermeijer4, A. N. van Geel5, M. Menke5, J. G. M. Klijn3 and A. Tibben6,*

1 Department of Medical Psychology and Psychotherapy, Erasmus Medical Centre
2 Department of Psychiatry, Rotterdam Family Cancer Clinic, Erasmus Medical Centre–Daniel den Hoed Cancer Centre
3 Department of Medical Oncology, Rotterdam Family Cancer Clinic, Erasmus Medical Centre–Daniel den Hoed Cancer Centre, Rotterdam
4 Department of Human Genetics, Clinical Genetics Section, University Medical Centre St Radboud, Nijmegen
5 Department of Surgery, Rotterdam Family Cancer Clinic, Erasmus Medical Centre–Daniel den Hoed Cancer Centre, Rotterdam
6 Centre for Human and Clinical Genetics, Leiden University Medical Centre, Leiden, The Netherlands

* Correspondence to: Professor A. Tibben, Leiden University Medical Centre Albinusdreef 2, 2333 ZA Leiden, The Netherlands. Tel: +31-(0)7-1526-8033; Fax: +31-(0)7-1526-6749; E-mail: a.tibben{at}lumc.nl

Background: The present study aimed to assess predictors of distress after ’prophylactic mastectomy (PM) and salpingo-ovariectomy (PSO), in order to enable the early identification of patients who could benefit from psychological support.

Patients and methods: General distress and cancer-related distress were assessed in 82 women at increased risk of hereditary breast and/or ovarian cancer undergoing PM and/or PSO, before and 6 and 12 months after prophylactic surgery. Neurotic lability and coping were assessed before surgery.

Results: Cancer-related distress and general distress at both follow-up moments were best explained by the level of cancer-related and general distress at baseline. Being a mutation carrier was predictive of increased cancer-related distress at 6-month follow-up (but not at 12 months), and of lower general distress 12 months after prophylactic surgery. Also, coping by having comforting thoughts was predictive of less cancer-related distress at 6-month follow-up.

Conclusions: Genetically predisposed women who are at risk of post-surgical distress can be identified using one or more of the predictors found in this study. Exploration of and/or attention to cancer-related distress and coping style before prophylactic surgery may help physicians and psychosocial workers to identify women who might benefit from additional post-surgical support.

Key words: BRCA1/2, mastectomy, salpingo-ovariectomy, prophylactic surgery, psychology

Received for publication December 4, 2006. Revision received May 4, 2007. Accepted for publication May 4, 2007.


Add to CiteULike CiteULike   Add to Connotea Connotea   Add to Del.icio.us Del.icio.us    What's this?


This article has been cited by other articles:


Home page
 JCOHome page
L. R. Schover
A Lesser Evil: Prophylactic Mastectomy for Women at High Risk for Breast Cancer
J. Clin. Oncol., August 20, 2008; 26(24): 3918 - 3919.
[Full Text] [PDF]


Disclaimer:
Please note that abstracts for content published before 1996 were created through digital scanning and may therefore not exactly replicate the text of the original print issues. All efforts have been made to ensure accuracy, but the Publisher will not be held responsible for any remaining inaccuracies. If you require any further clarification, please contact our Customer Services Department.