Reproductive concerns and psychosocial adjustment of young breast and gynecologic cancer patients

Confrontation with breast and gynecologic cancer causes difficulties of psychological adaptation. In young women, the reproductive and gynecologic consequences of the disease and treatments emerge as an additional threat. This study aimed to: (i) analyze depressive symptoms, anxiety, quality of life and reproductive concerns in young women with breast or gynecologic cancer, in comparison with healthy women; (ii) explore the mediator effect of depression and anxiety symptoms on the relation reproductive concerns → quality of life in women with cancer. This transversal study was conducted in “Centro Hospitalar Baixo Vouga II”, Aveiro, and through various Facebook pages supporting women with cancer. The sample included 95 women, 52 with breast or gynecologic cancer diagnosis and 43 healthy controls. Participants completed the Reproductive Concerns Scale, the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) and the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Questionnaire Core-30 (EORTC QLQ-C30). Diagnosed women reported more depressive symptoms, anxiety and reproductive concerns than healthy women (p<0.001). An effect mediation of depressive symptoms (p=0.001) was found. Reproductive concerns affected the quality of life in this population, by being associated with more depression and anxiety symptoms. Although there is currently a careful selection of treatments to preserve fertility, our findings show that the diagnosis of breast or gynecologic cancer in phase I to III leads to concerns and beliefs associated with impaired fertility. This fact results in difficulties of psychological adaptation. Thus, we emphasize the importance of directing the psychological interventions towards this aspect. © 2016 Published by Future Academy www.FutureAcademy.org.uk