Wednesday, October 20, 2010

Women fight the effects of chemotherapy stretched after treatment ends

For some women, the effects of breast cancer, the most common cancer affecting women, do not end when they disappear the hospital. A lot of times people get mentally and emotionally ready to contract with chemotherapy and they receive a lot of support during that time," said Stephanie Reid-Arndt, an assistant professor of health psychology in the School of Health Professions.


The study found that people unwilling to seek out social support, including therapy and informal support networks, following chemotherapy reported a lower quality of life and higher incidences of depression. People in rural communities value close relationships with family, the community and religious organizations and find solace in these support systems after chemotherapy, according to research on this topic. Women in rural areas also reported increased breast cancer related symptoms such as body-image issues and fatigue. "There tends to be strong community support for patients in rural areas that will accommodate varying levels of function,"



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