The impact of breast cancer on patients and husbands

The purpose of this descriptive study was fourfold: (a) to assess the adjustment concerns of patients and husbands after a mastectomy, (b) to describe their reactions to seeing the mastectomy incision, (c) to determine which phase of illness was most stressful for them, and (d) to identify factors that helped them cope with the illness. Tape-recorded interviews were conducted with 50 mastectomy patients and their husbands in the hospital just after surgery and 1 month later. Transcripts were content analyzed by two independent raters. Results indicated that survival concerns were the predominant worries reported by patients and husbands in the hospital and 1 month after surgery. Although most of the husbands reacted well to seeing their wives' mastectomy incision, a small group of husbands reported that it was a difficult experience. Patients and husbands indicated that emotional support, information, attitude, and religion were the factors that helped them cope with the illness during this time.