Changes in emotional functioning in women with carcinoma of the mammary gland

Abstract

Summary: The carcinoma of mammary gland is the most frequent female malignant disease in Bulgaria and in most of the developed countries. Its share is about 25% of all malignant diseases and it takes place second among the mortality reasons due to oncological diseases. The cancer disease inevitably leaves a trace in women and changes their quality of life, influences their psychosocial status, causes anxiety and distress and changes their views on life and the future. All the spheres building the concept „quality of life` are influenced in different ways by the dynamics of emotionality and experience. The current research study examines the correlation between subjectively estimated anxiety which is proved by tools and psychosocial functioning in women with breast cancer.