Stress Management Is Key To Long-Term Treatment, Mental Management Of Breast Cancer

New findings published in the journal CANCER show that providing breast cancer patients with the skills and knowledge to improve their mood and quality early on in their treatment can help them manage stress and significantly benefit survival, overall.

During the study, researchers examined 240 women with a recent breast cancer diagnosis who participated in a randomized trial. They were then tested via the effects of a stress management intervention that was development by Michael Antoni, PhD, of the University of Miami.

Findings revealed that when compared with patients who received a one-day seminar of education about breast cancer, those who learned relaxation techniques and new coping skills in a supportive group over 10 weeks experienced an overall improved quality of life and less depressive symptoms throughout their first year of treatment. Unfortunately, those who received less stress management intervention had persistently less depressive symptoms and better quality of life for up to 15 years later.

"Women with breast cancer who participated in the study initially used stress management techniques to cope with the challenges of primary treatment to lower distress," said lead author Jamie Stagl, who is currently at Massachusetts General Hospital, in Boston, via a news release. "Because these stress management techniques also give women tools to cope with fears of recurrence and disease progression, the present results indicate that these skills can be used to reduce distress and depressed mood and optimize quality of life across the survivor-ship period as women get on with their lives."

Researchers even found that breast cancer survivors involved in stress management groups reported levels of depression and quality of life at the 15-year follow-up that were similar to those without the health issue--a problem that was helpful for various races and ethnic backgrounds.

"This is key given the fact that ethnic minority women experience poorer quality of life and outcomes after breast cancer treatment," said Stagl.

As the number of survivors continue to increase, the question of how to maintain psychosocial health increases.

"Because depressive symptoms have been associated with neuroendocrine and inflammatory processes that may influence cancer progression, our ongoing work is examining the effects of stress management on depression and inflammatory biomarkers on the one hand, and disease recurrence and survival on the other," concluded Dr. Antoni.