[Resilience, Fear of Progression and Psychosocial Distress in Patients with Breast Cancer and Gynecological Tumors Seeking a Second Opinion].

PURPOSE

The objective of the study was to find out about psychological distress, fear of progression, and resilience levels in patients with breast cancer and gynecological tumors asking for a second opinion concerning their oncological treatment.

METHODS

158 female cancer patients were assessed for those parameters in a questionnaire survey comprising SOC-13, FoP-Q-SF, and the NCCN distress thermometer.

RESULTS

16.2% of the breast cancer patients and 20.5% of the patients with gynecological tumors suffered from dysfunctional fear of progression, 70.4% of the breast cancer patients and 80.6% of the patients with gynecological tumors were highly distressed. The patients did not differ significantly in their resilience levels from a representative sample of the general population.

DISCUSSION

Strong disease-related fear and distress were found in participating patients seeking a second medical opinion.

CONCLUSIONS

Further study of the connection between psychological variables and the decision for a second oncological opinion seems crucial concerning implications for doctor-patient-communication.