Dorval Michel, Guay Stéphane, Mondor Myrto, Mâsse Benoît, Falardeau Maurice, Robidoux André, Deschênes Luc, Maunsell Elizabeth
Unité de recherche en santé des populations, Centre de recherche du Centre Hospitalier Affilé Universitaire de Quebec, QC, Canada.
J Clin Oncol. 2005 May 20;23(15):3588-96. doi: 10.1200/JCO.2005.01.628.
Although some couples report an improved relationship since coping with breast cancer together, little quantitative information exists about this phenomenon. We assessed extent to which both couple members report that breast cancer brought them closer and characteristics that predicted this.
This prospective study was based on all women with newly diagnosed nonmetastatic disease first treated during recruitment in four Quebec hospitals, in addition to their spouses. Participation was 87% among eligible patients and 91% among spouses of participating patients. Both couple partners were interviewed individually about quality of life at 2 weeks and 3 and 12 months after treatment start. At 12 months, each was asked whether the disease had brought them closer, distanced them, or had no effect.
Overall, 42% of the 282 couples said breast cancer brought them closer, 6% had one or other partner reporting feeling distanced, and less than 1% of couples had both partners reporting feeling distanced. Characteristics assessed explained 31% of variance in the proportion of couples getting closer (P < .0001). After taking into account partners' prediagnosis characteristics and the woman's treatment, the spouse reporting the patient as confidant (P = .003), getting advice from her in the first 2 weeks about coping with breast cancer (P = .03), accompanying her to surgery (P = .057), the patient's reporting more affection from her spouse at 3 months since diagnosis (P = .003) predicted both partners saying the disease brought them closer.
Breast cancer can be a growth experience for couples under certain conditions. This information may help reassure patients and their spouses confronting this disease.
尽管一些夫妻表示共同应对乳腺癌后关系有所改善，但关于这一现象的定量信息却很少。我们评估了夫妻双方报告乳腺癌使他们关系更亲密的程度以及预测这一情况的特征。
这项前瞻性研究基于在魁北克四家医院招募期间首次接受治疗的所有新诊断为非转移性疾病的女性及其配偶。符合条件的患者参与率为87%，参与患者的配偶参与率为91%。夫妻双方在治疗开始后2周、3个月和12个月分别接受关于生活质量的单独访谈。在12个月时，询问双方该疾病是否使他们关系更亲密、疏远或没有影响。
总体而言，282对夫妻中有42%表示乳腺癌使他们关系更亲密，6%的夫妻中有一方或另一方表示感觉关系疏远，不到1%的夫妻双方都表示感觉关系疏远。所评估的特征解释了关系更亲密的夫妻比例中31%的变异（P <.0001）。在考虑伴侣的诊断前特征和女性的治疗情况后，将患者视为知己的配偶（P =.003）、在最初2周内从她那里获得应对乳腺癌建议的配偶（P =.03）、陪她去做手术的配偶（P =.057）、患者在确诊后3个月报告从配偶那里得到更多关爱的情况（P =.003），都预示着双方会表示该疾病使他们关系更亲密。
在某些情况下乳腺癌对夫妻而言可能是一次成长经历。这些信息可能有助于让面对这种疾病的患者及其配偶安心。
