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 included interaction within the partner relationship as well as with family, friends, and colleagues. Data were obtained by individual and group interviews from 10 women with a diagnosis of breast cancer and 5 male partners. Both partnered and single women participated. There were four major findings seldom discussed in the literature, which have important implications for preventive intervention. First, partner relationships troubled before the diagnosis as well as those characterized by mutual caring faced challenges and negative changes. Second, in an effort to protect each other, communication within 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 relationship issues. Fourth, participants confirmed the need for a comprehensive intervention to facilitate coping with issues relative to relationships, intimacy, and sexuality. Although the sample was small, in-depth data were obtained that provide a basis for specific areas in which further empirical investigation is needed, and they indicate that preventive intervention may well be warranted.