Abstract PO2-11-08: Divorce and marital dissolution after Breast Cancer diagnosis in young breast cancer survivors in Mexico

Abstract

Abstract Background: The current literature suggests that facing breast cancer can have significant effects on the relationship, for the better or for the worse. The needs of younger women with breast cancer are receiving increased attention, as 23.1% of all newly diagnosed invasive cancer occur in women age 50 or younger. Marital relationships, in particular, may be strained for younger cancer patients as they face health, emotional, and financial stressors from their cancer. The few studies that are available to date have examined the effect of breast cancer diagnosis on marital and relationship Purpose: We examined marital outcomes among young locally advanced breast cancer patients in our institution Methods: Eligible participants were women with diagnosis of breast cancer stage I–III, were at least 6 months post diagnosis, and age 50 or younger at the time of diagnosis. Demographic data collected. Participants reported their marital o relationship status at time of breast cancer diagnosis and after at least 6 moth post diagnosis, whether they were currently married or a member of an unmarried couple, divorced, widowed or separated Other variables examined regarding a possible separation, the reasons for separation, the influence of the cancer on the relationship, the positive or negative perception of the impact of cancer on the relationship, the highest educational attainment and employment status. Descriptive statistics, percentages, frequencies, mean values and standard deviations were calculated. Results: In total, 75 patients were eligible for inclusion with a total of 250 patient with diagnosis of locally advanced breast cancer. The median age was 44 (range 30–48). Most of the patients, stage I or II tumors (55%). The divorce or separation rate was 36%, higher than reported in the literature (14.5%). Among those who were separated, 77% reported that cancer contributed to the separation or divorce. Also, for those who stayed together, 81% reported an impact of the cancer on the relationship, of which 50% reported a negative impact. Of those who had separated, none were in a new relationship. Conclusions: The emotional burdens of cancer may lead to marital stress for younger cancer survivors.; support systems are needed to assist them in the years following diagnosis. Because the marital relationship has multiple dimensions, it is also important to explore and identify those areas of the couple's life that are affected by the experience Citation Format: Saúl Campos-Gomez, Andrea Ovando Trujillo. Divorce and marital dissolution after Breast Cancer diagnosis in young breast cancer survivors in Mexico [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 2023 San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium; 2023 Dec 5-9; San Antonio, TX. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2024;84(9 Suppl):Abstract nr PO2-11-08.