Perceived Risk, Anxiety and Alexithymia in Sisters of Breast Cancer Patients Veena Shukla Mishra and Dhananjaya Saranath

Abstract

Background: Breast cancer is the most common cancer in Indian women with an annual incidence of 144,937 cases and mortality of 70,218. The perception of cancer risk has consistently been mentioned as major factor influencing the women, who are at increased risk of inherited breast and ovarian cancer. The overestimation of cancer risk has been associated with many negative outcomes like anxiety and distress for one's self and family. Study suggests that women those who have higher perceived breast cancer risk experience greater worry and disengage coping. Aim: The purpose of the study was to examine the perception of risk of breast cancer in sisters of newly diagnosed breast cancer patients and further examine the association with anxiety and alexithymia, as compared with healthy controls without a family history of breast cancer. Methods: The participants were requested to complete questionnaires including demographic and risk perception of breast cancer. The association of risk perception was evaluated by using the State Trait Anxiety Inventory Scale and Toronto Alexithymia Scale in sisters of breast cancer patients and healthy controls. Results: Sisters of 111 breast cancer patients and 123 healthy controls completed the questionnaire. Sisters with high perceived risk showed high scores on anxiety and alexithymia scale as compared with healthy control. Regression analysis showed significant association between perceived risk and anxiety (t=2.023, P < .05) and alexithymia factor difficulty in identifying feelings and total alexithymia score (t=6.787, P < .000 and 3.726, P < .000). Conclusion: Sisters of breast cancer patients showed significantly higher perceived risk, anxiety and alexithymia than their healthy counterparts. The sister's perception of breast cancer risk influences the anxiety and emotional experience. Our data emphasizes that medical professional should discuss risk appraisals to anxiety and emotional concerns in both breast cancer patients and their sisters to help them in coping with breast cancer and concerns in the family.