Author(s): Chou AF, Stewart SL, Wild RC, Bloom JR
Purpose: Although previous evidence has shown increased likelihood for survival in cancer patients who have social support, little is known about changes in social support during illness and their impact on survival. This study examines the relationship between social support and survival among women diagnosed with breast carcinoma, specifically assessing the effect of network size and changes in social contact post-diagnosis.
Methods: A population-based sample of 584 women was followed for up to 12.5 years (median follow-up = 10.3 years). The mean age at diagnosis was 44 years, 81% were married, and 29% were racial/ethnic minorities. Cox regression analysis was used to estimate survival as a function of social support (changes in social contact and the size of social support), disease severity, treatment, health status, and socio-demographic factors.
Results: Fifty-four percent of the women had local and 44% had regional stage disease. About 53% underwent mastectomy, 68% received chemotherapy, and 55% had radiation. Regression results showed that disease stage, estrogen receptor status, and mastectomy were associated with greater risk of dying. Although network size was not related to survival, increased contact with friends/family post-diagnosis was associated with lower risk of death, with a hazard ratio of 0.31 (95% CI, 0.17-0.57).
Conclusion: Findings from this study have identified an important aspect of a woman's social network that impacts survival. An increase in the amount of social contact, representing greater social support, may increase the likelihood of the women's survival by enhancing their coping skills, providing emotional support, and expanding opportunities for information-sharing.
Referred From: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20967848
Author(s): National Cancer Institute
Author(s): American Cancer Society
Author(s): Mellon S, Northouse LL
Author(s): Mertens DM
Author(s): Schmidt JE, Andrykowski MA
Author(s): Buki LP, Garces DM, Hinestrosa MC, Kogan L, Carrillo IY,
Author(s): Galván N, Buki LP, Garcés DM
Author(s): Clark R, Anderson NB, Clark VR, Williams DR
Author(s): Cooper LA, Hill MN, Powe NR
Author(s): Kreps GL, Sparks L
Author(s): Hall IJ, Rim SH, Johnson-Turbes CA, Vanderpool R, Kamalu NN
Author(s): Joseph G, Kaplan C, Luce J, Lee R, Stewart S, et al.
Author(s): Banegas MP, Li CI
Author(s): Luckett T, Goldstein D, Butow PN, Gebski V, Aldridge LJ, et al.
Author(s): Mujahid MS, Janz NK, Hawley ST, Griggs JJ, Hamilton AS, et al.
Author(s): Janz NK, Hawley ST, Mujahid MS, Griggs JJ, Alderman A, et al.
Author(s): Mujahid MS, Janz NK, Hawley ST, Griggs JJ, Hamilton AS, et al.
Author(s): DeSantis C, Jemal A, Ward E
Author(s): Barry J, Breen N, Barrett M
Author(s): Fagundes CP, Bennett JM, Alfano CM, Glaser R, Povoski SP, et al.
Author(s): Berz JP, Johnston K, Backus B, Doros G, Rose AJ, et al.
Author(s): Burton LM, Bonilla-Silva E, Ray V, Buckelew R, Freeman EH
Author(s): Kuo TM, Mobley LR, Anselin L
Author(s): Kravdal H, Syse A
Author(s): Nayeri K, Pitaro G, Feldman JG
Author(s): Osborne C, Ostir GV, Du X, Peek MK, Goodwin JS
Author(s): Taira N, Shimozuma K, Shiroiwa T, Ohsumi S, Kuroi K, et al
Author(s): Wittenberg L, Yutsis M, Taylor S, Giese-Davis J, Bliss-Isberg C, et al.
Author(s): McColl MA, Skinner H
Author(s): Glanz K, Lewis FM, Rimer BK
Author(s): Jensen KP, Bäck-Pettersson S, Segesten K
Author(s): Trinkaus M, Burman D, Barmala N, Rodin G, Jones J, et al.
Author(s): Raveis VH, Pretter S
Author(s): Fobair P, Spiegel D
Author(s): Shelby RA, Crespin TR, Wells-Di Gregorio SM, Lamdan RM, Siegel JE, et al.
Author(s): Janz NK, Mujahid MS, Hawley ST, Griggs JJ, Alderman A, et al.
Author(s): Davey MP, Kissil K, Niño A, Tubbs CY
Author(s): Hamilton JB, Agarwal M, Carter JK, Crandell JL
Author(s): Hamilton JB, Sandelowski M
Author(s): Williams KP, Mullan PB, Todem D
Author(s): Ashing-Giwa KT, Ganz PA
Author(s): Ashing-Giwa KT, Padilla GV, Bohórquez DE, Tejero JS, Garcia M
Author(s): Wildes KA, Miller AR, de Majors SS, Ramirez AG
Author(s): Mullan F
Author(s): Yang HC, Schuler TA
Author(s): Fang CY, Manne SL, Pape SJ
Author(s): Vahdaninia M, Omidvari S, Montazeri A
Author(s): Karakoyun-Celik O1, Gorken I, Sahin S, Orcin E, Alanyali H, et al.
Author(s): Kneece J
Author(s): Dorval M, Maunsell E, Taylor-Brown J, Kilpatrick M
Author(s): Taylor-Brown J, Kilpatrick M, Maunsell E, Dorval M
Author(s): Antonucci TC, Birditt KS, Webster NJ
Author(s): Birditt K, Antonucci TC
Author(s): Kroenke CH, Michael Y, Tindle H, Gage E, Chlebowski R, et al.
Author(s): Talley A, Molix L, Schlegel RJ, Bettencourt A
Author(s): White JL, Boehmer U
Author(s): Boehmer U, Freund KM, Linde R
Author(s): Fergus KD, Gray RE
Author(s): Manne SL, Ostroff J, Winkel G, Grana G, Fox K
Author(s): Perz J, Ussher JM, Butow P, Wain G
Author(s): Ganz PA, Rowland JH, Desmond K, Meyerowitz BE, Wyatt GE
Author(s): Legg M, Occhipinti S, Ferguson M, Dunn J, Chambers SK
Author(s): Park JH, Bae SH, Jung YS, Kim KS
Author(s): Bjorneklett HG, Lindemalm C, Rosenblad A, Ojutkangas M, Letocha H, et al.
Author(s): Matthews AK, Tejeda S, Johnson TP, Berbaum ML, Manfredi C
Author(s): Friedman LC, Barber CR, Chang J, Tham YL, Kalidas M, et al.
Author(s): Levine EG, Aviv C, Yoo G, Ewing C, Au A
Author(s): Janiszewska J, Buss T, de Walden-Gałuszko K, Majkowicz M, Lichodziejewska-Niemierko M, et al.
Author(s): Braun B, Marghi JR
Author(s): Lewis KG, Moon S
Author(s): Sheppard VB, Adams IF, Lamdan R, Taylor KL
Author(s): Schreiber JA, Brockopp DY
Author(s): Dyson GJ, Thompson K, Palmer S, Thomas DM, Schofield P
Author(s): Elkins G, Fisher W, Johnson A
Author(s): Beatty LJ, Adams J, Sibbritt D, Wade TD
Author(s): Spadacio C, Barros NF
Author(s): Geue K, Goetze H, Buttstaedt M, Kleinert E, Richter D, et al.
Author(s): Bar-Sela G, Atid L, Danos S, Gabay N, Epelbaum R
Author(s): Puig A, Lee SM, Goodwin L, Sherrard PAD
Author(s): Lin K, Hu Y, Chang K, Lin H, Tsauo J
Author(s): Danhauer SC, Mihalko SL, Russell GB, Campbell CR, Felder L, et al.
Author(s): Moadel AB, Shah C, Wylie-Rosett J, Harris MS, Patel SR, et al.