The relationship between fear of cancer recurrence and adaptive ability in women with breast cancer in Ardabil city - 2023

Articles in Press

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

1 Associate Professor of Reproductive Health , Nursing and midwifery school -Ardabil University of medical sciences, Ardabil, Iran

2 Department of Midwifery, School of Nursing and Midwifery, Ardabil University of Medical Sciences, Ardabil, Iran.

3 School of Nursing and Midwifery, Ardabil University of Medical Sciences, Ardabil, Iran.

4 Ardabil University of Medical Sciences, Ardabil, Iran.

10.22038/ijogi.2025.84552.6291

Abstract

The present study aimed to determine the relationship between fear of cancer recurrence and the ability to adapt in women with breast cancer.

Methods: This study is a descriptive-correlational study conducted on women with breast cancer in Ardabil city using a census method. After obtaining the code of ethics and receiving a letter of introduction and informed consent from the participants, data were collected using a questionnaire.

Results: Data from 180 breast cancer patients were analyzed. The mean score of fear of disease recurrence in women with breast cancer was lower than the criterion value, and this difference was not statistically significant. The mean score of ability to adapt to cancer in these women was higher than the criterion value, and was also statistically significant (p˂0.001). There was an inverse and significant correlation between fear of cancer recurrence and its subcomponents with ability to adapt in women with breast cancer and women's age (p˂0.001). 70% of the variance in adaptation to cancer was explained by fear of disease recurrence, and among its components, fear of death (ß=3.01) and concern about femininity (ß=2.4) were the strongest predictors of ability to adapt to cancer in women with breast cancer.

Conclusion: There was an inverse correlation between fear of cancer recurrence and adaptation to it. That is, as the fear of cancer recurrence increased, the level of adaptation decreased. It is recommended that health workers improve adaptation to the disease by reducing the fear of cancer recurrence.

Keywords

Main Subjects

The Iranian Journal of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Infertility

Articles in Press, Accepted Manuscript
Available Online from 17 May 2025

Files

Share

How to cite

Statistics