Psychosomatic Factors in Breast Cancer Patients. Results of a Case Control Study

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Abstract
An age-matched case control study was conducted on 50 patients with breast cancer and 105 controls in which 23 biopsychosocially oriented questions were asked by personal interview. Cases were more likely than controls to have had a depleting life event in the previous 5 years, especially in the younger age groups. Cases were more likely than controls to have a commitment to prevailing social norms and to the external appearances of being a ‘nice' or ‘good' person. Cases were more likely than controls to suppress and internalise their feelings, particularly feelings of anger. Suppression of feelings was particularly frequent in cases who were 45 years or older. Total scores developed to combine response to questions show that cases deny, internalise and repress feelings especially anger, and have a commitment to the social norms significantly more frequently than controls. Further research into the bio-psychosocial characterisation of the breast cancer patient will add another risk factor to the profile of this cancer and this may lead to a more rational approach for screening programmes aimed at the early detection of breast cancer.