Relationship issues of women with breast cancer

This in-depth, qualitative pilot study explored the impact of breast cancer on specific dimensions of the relationships and roles of women, it include d interaction within the partner relationship as well as with family friend s, and colleagues. Data were obtained by individual and group interviews fr om 10 women with a diagnosis of breast cancer and 5 male partners. Both par tnered and single women participated. There were four major findings seldom discussed in the literature, which have important implications for prevent ive intervention. First, partner relationships troubled before the diagnosi s as well as those characterized by mutual caring faced challenges and nega tive changes. Second, in an effort to protect each other, communication wit hin the partner dyad became less open, and there were changes in the usual manner of conflict resolution. Third, unpartnered women appeared to be more vulnerable to problems of negative adjustment, largely because of relation ship issues. Fourth, participants confirmed the need for a comprehensive in tervention to facilitate coping with issues relative to relationships, inti macy, and sexuality Although the sample was small, in-depth data were obtai ned that provide a basis for specific areas in which further empirical inve stigation is needed, and they indicate that preventive intervention may wel l be warranted.