Coping styles as predictors of survival time in bladder cancer

The role of coping in the survival of cancer is a controversial topic. To specifiy the influence of coping on survival time, we conducted a longitudinal, prospective and observational study. In a preoperative interview, 105 patients with primary bladder cancer were asked about their active and depressive coping strategies. Ten years later, the survival rate was recorded; in cases of death, it was noted whether or not it was in consequence of the bladder cancer. Kaplan-Meier analyses of the collected data revealed a mean survival rate of about 60% after 10 years. Cox regression demonstrated no significant effect for active or depressive coping when tumour stage was controlled for. Patients who presented with high values for either of the coping strategies lived only slightly longer than those with low values. Therefore, it can be concluded that preoperative coping does not seem to demonstrate an important role for survival in bladder cancer.