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Contribution of problem-solving skills to fear of recurrence in breast cancer survivors

  • Epidemiology
  • Published:
Breast Cancer Research and Treatment Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Although fear of recurrence is a major concern among breast cancer survivors after surgery, no standard strategies exist that alleviate their distress. This study examined the association of patients’ problem-solving skills and fear of recurrence and psychological distress among breast cancer survivors. Randomly selected, ambulatory, female patients with breast cancer participated in this study. They were asked to complete the Concerns about Recurrence Scale (CARS) and the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale. Multiple regression analyses were used to examine their associations. Data were obtained from 317 patients. Patients’ problem-solving skills were significantly associated with all subscales of fear of recurrence and overall worries measured by the CARS. In addition, patients’ problem-solving skills were significantly associated with both their anxiety and depression. Our findings warrant clinical trials to investigate effectiveness of psychosocial intervention program, including enhancing patients’ problem-solving skills and reducing fear of recurrence among breast cancer survivors.

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Acknowledgments

This study was supported in part by a Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (B) from the Japanese Ministry of Education, Culture, Science, and Technology and a Grant-in-Aid for Cancer Research from the Japanese Ministry of Labor, Health, and Welfare. Toshinari Yamashita has received remuneration from Chugai Pharmaceutical Company.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Psychiatry and Cognitive-Behavioral Medicine, Nagoya City University Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Mizuho-cho, Mizuho-ku, Nagoya, Aichi, 467-8601, Japan

    Tatuo Akechi

  2. Division of Palliative Care and Psycho-oncology, Nagoya City University Hospital, Mizuho-cho, Mizuho-ku, Nagoya, Aichi, 467-8601, Japan

    Tatuo Akechi

  3. Nagoya City University Graduate School of Nursing, Mizuho-cho, Mizuho-ku, Nagoya, Aichi, 467-8601, Japan

    Kanae Momino

  4. Department of Breast Oncology, Aichi Cancer Center Hospital, 1-1 Kanokoden, Chikusa-ku, Nagoya, 464-8681, Japan

    Toshinari Yamashita, Takashi Fujita, Hironori Hayashi, Nobuyuki Tsunoda & Hiroji Iwata

  5. Tokyo Metropolitan Cancer and Infectious Diseases Center Komagome Hospital, 18-22,Honkomagome 3chome, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, 113-8677, Japan

    Toshinari Yamashita

  6. Department of Breast and Endocrine Surgery, Nagoya University Hospital, 65 Tsurumai-cho, Showa-ku, Nagoya, 466-8560, Japan

    Hironori Hayashi & Nobuyuki Tsunoda

Authors
  1. Tatuo Akechi
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  2. Kanae Momino
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  3. Toshinari Yamashita
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  4. Takashi Fujita
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  5. Hironori Hayashi
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  6. Nobuyuki Tsunoda
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  7. Hiroji Iwata
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Correspondence to Tatuo Akechi.

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Akechi, T., Momino, K., Yamashita, T. et al. Contribution of problem-solving skills to fear of recurrence in breast cancer survivors. Breast Cancer Res Treat 145, 205–210 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10549-014-2929-3

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10549-014-2929-3

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