Women’s coping strategies during the first three months of adjuvant endocrine therapy for breast cancer

• Abstract Aim: The aim was to explore stressful events, experienced problems and used coping strategies during the first three months of undergoing ET. Design: This study used a mixed method design. Methods: A consecutive sample of 39 women newly diagnosed with breast cancer were included at the start of their adjuvant endocrine therapy. A daily coping assessment was used to create daily reports about stressful events or experienced problems and coping strategies. Results: The most frequently reported physical problems were sleeping difficulties. Anxiety was the most reported emotional problem. Patients used both emotion-and problem-focused coping, and sleeping difficulties were coped by relaxing, and anxiety was coped by thinking about something else. Conclusions: Patients experienced a variety of stressful events or problems during the first three months of endocrine therapy. They also used several coping strategies to endure the treatment.

Ämnesord

MEDICIN OCH HÄLSOVETENSKAP  -- Klinisk medicin -- Cancer och onkologi (hsv//swe)

MEDICAL AND HEALTH SCIENCES  -- Clinical Medicine -- Cancer and Oncology (hsv//eng)

Nyckelord

breast cancer

coping strategies

endocrine treatment

experienced problems

oncological treatment

patient-reported experiences

stressful events

Publikations- och innehållstyp

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