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

Abstract

Background: Breast cancer affects a woman’s body and mind in complex ways and is more than just a physical condition that requires medical treatment. Objective: To investigate how women with breast cancer undergoing surgical treatment cope with and adjust to the disease. Methods: 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. Results: 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). Conclusions: 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. Implications for Practice: Coping strategies should be shared by oncology nurses with targeted women, especially if their potential for postdiagnosis positive psychological change is considered. What is Foundational: 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.