Psychological adaptation to cancer in women with breast cancer considering selected medical factors.

[INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVE] The diagnosis and treatment of breast cancer result in numerous somatic, psychological, and spiritual challenges, the severity of which depends on the patient's psychological adaptation to the disease. The aim of the study is to assess the psychological adaptation to cancer in women with breast cancer, taking into account selected medical factors.

[MATERIAL AND METHODS] The study included 522 women diagnosed with breast cancer. The diagnostic survey method was used, with research tools including a Self-Authored Questionnaire and the Mini-Mac Psychological Adaptation to Cancer Scale. Statistical calculations were performed using the Statistica 13.3 software package, with a significance level of p ≤ 0.05.

[RESULTS] A constructive coping style predominated in the studied group, with the highest intensity observed in positive re-evaluation (M = 22.18). A higher stage of cancer progression correlated with a greater intensity of the 'fighting spirit' strategy (p = 0.016). The longer the time since breast cancer diagnosis, the lower the intensity of anxious preoccupation (p = 0.030), helplessness-hopelessness (p = 0.005), and the destructive coping style (p = 0.009). The destructive coping style was more frequently observed in women who had not undergone chemotherapy (p = 0.001), while surgically treated women exhibited a higher intensity of the helplessness-hopelessness strategy (p = 0.047). In contrast, patients who had undergone radiotherapy had a lower mean level of anxious preoccupation (p = 0.006).

[CONCLUSIONS] The analyzed medical factors - such as the time since cancer diagnosis, cancer stage, self-assessment of current health status, and applied therapies - determined the psychological adaptation to the disease in women diagnosed with breast cancer.