Partners of cancer patients: Part I. Impact, adjustment, and coping acrossthe illness trajectory

Because the importance of partners' role in determining the adjustment of p atients with cancer has become increasingly evident, partners have become t he target of studies more extensively in recent years. It also is apparent that partners often suffer more psychological distress from the impact of t he diagnosis than patients do. This two-part review identifies three areas of research that have not been integrated in the literature: (1) the impact of cancer on the partner across different stages of the illness trajectory , (2) gender differences in partners' reactions and adjustment, and (3) psy chosocial interventions for partners. Part I focuses on the experience of c ancer patients' partners, how the illness affects them, and how they adjust to and cope with the illness. Part II will review the interventions that h ave been developed to help patients' partners and conclude with suggestions for providing interventions specifically tailored for different population s of partners.