The relationship between fear of cancer recurrence with ability to adapt in women with breast cancer in Ardabil city, 2024

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

1 M.Sc. Student of Midwifery, School of Nursing and Midwifery, Ardabil University of Medical Sciences, Ardabil, Iran.

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

3 Associate Professor, Department of Thoracic Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, Ardabil University of Medical Sciences, Ardabil, Iran.

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

5 Associate Professor, Department of Midwifery, School of Nursing and Midwifery, Ardabil University of Medical Sciences, Ardabil, Iran.

10.22038/ijogi.2025.84552.6291

Abstract

Introduction: Breast cancer is the second most common cause of cancer-related death in women. Diagnosis and complications of its treatment are stressful experiences for patients. One of the major challenges for women with breast cancer is the fear of recurrence and the ability to adapt to cancer. The present study was conducted with aim to determine the relationship between fear of cancer recurrence and the ability to adapt in women with breast cancer.
Methods: This descriptive-correlational study was conducted in 2024 on 180 women with breast cancer in Ardabil city. Data related to cancer recurrence and ability to adapt with cancer were collected using a questionnaire on demographic information, fear of cancer recurrence, and ability to adapt to cancer. Data analysis was performed using SPSS software (version 26) and ANOVA, independent t-test Chi-square, Pearson correlation coefficient, Spearman tests. P<0.05 was considered statistically significant.
Results: 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). Moreover, 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 adapt to it. 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.

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References

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The Iranian Journal of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Infertility
Volume 28, Issue 3
May 2025
Pages 51-62

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