Psychological coping with breast cancer
In the summary of various studies on coping with breast cancer , 3 constructs used to address coping styles in the cancer population have been identified:
Coping styles for breast cancer
They are stable and consistent ways of dealing with stress, with two main styles:
- Focused on the problem, focused on taking action to resolve the demands that center on it.
- Focused on the emotion, which involves regulation of emotional responses that result from the problem.
Coping strategies for breast cancer
Specific actions that vary depending on the context of the stressful situation.
These strategies are:
- Focused on approach: the stressful event is controlled by facing it directly.
- Focused on behaviors of avoidance: reduction of tension by escaping from that which causes stress.
Therefore, these strategies would be the different ways of dealing with breast cancer depending on the patient's personality.
Mental adjustment to cancer
Another construct that has been studied is 'Mental Adjustment to Cancer': the patient's cognitive and behavioral responses to a breast cancer diagnosis.
This adjustment is composed of 4 theoretical factors :
- Fighting spirit.
- Helplessness/hopelessness.
- Anxious concern.
- Fatalism.
Coping styles are part of the patient's personality, while strategies can be learned in our Psychology consultation to achieve better coping with the diagnosis of their illness.
Thus, we can affirm that a patient whose coping style is problem-centered and whose coping strategy is centered on approaching the problem, facing it directly, will have a better adaptation to the diagnosis, the treatment and the disease in general than a patient with totally contrary styles and strategies.
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Article written by Elena Iracheta, Clinical Psychologist at the Women's Unit.
If you found this article interesting and would like to consult with a clinical psychologist, the Women's Unit at Ruber International Hospital has a specialized department in this area. You can request more information by calling 91 387 51 72/73/74 or schedule an in-person appointment with top specialists.