Anxiety in caregiving partners of breast cancer patients

ConclusionBreast cancer patients are much more concerned about body image issues than their male partners. As these body image-associated concerns often arise from the fear of loosing attraction to their partner, these fears might be reduced by speaking about them openly. Partners are mostly concerned about surgery and anesthetic-related complications. Therefore, preoperative medical information to the partner is mandatory. Partners of breast cancer patients should be included in psycho-oncological support and medical briefings. Probably high anxiety levels of both partners and patients should be taken into account (due to younger age, lower educational level and procedures causing distress). These partners and patients should receive  extra careful (clarification) counselling and (treatment support such as a psycho-oncologist) involvement of a psyco-oncologist.
Source: Archives of Gynecology and Obstetrics - Category: OBGYN Source Type: research