A cohort study of quality of life in partners of young breast cancer survivors compared to partners of healthy controls

Abstract

Background: Partners of young breast cancer survivors (BCS) are at increased risk for deficits in quality of life (QoL). To intervene effectively, it is important to understand how the breast cancer experience impacts partners. The purpose of this study was to compare QoL between partners of young BCS and partners of healthy acquaintance controls. Methods: Partners of young BCS (3-8 years post treatment and ≤ 45 years old at diagnosis) and partners of agematched healthy acquaintance controls completed questionnaires on overall, physical (physical function, sexual difficulty), social (personal resources, sexual enjoyment, marital satisfaction, partner social support, social constraints, parenting satisfaction), psychological (depressive symptoms), and spiritual (behaviors, beliefs, and activities) QoL. Analyses included descriptive statistics and one-way ANOVA to compare partner groups on all study variables. Results: Although partners of young BCS (n = 227) reported fewer social constraints (p < .001), they reported lower overall QoL (p < .001), fewer personal resources (p < .001), more sexual difficulty (p = .019), less sexual enjoyment (p = .002), less marital satisfaction (p = .019), more depressive symptoms (p = .024), and fewer spiritual behaviors (p < .001), beliefs (p = .001) and activities (p = .003) compared to partners of healthy acquaintance controls (n = 170). Additional analysis showed that perceptions that the relationship changed for the better since cancer, social constraints, partner social support, and depression predicted marital satisfaction among partners of young BCS. Conclusions: Partners of young BCS are at risk for poorer overall, physical, social, psychological, and spiritual QoL compared to partners of healthy women. Interventions targeting QoL domains may enable partners to effectively support their partner and improve their QoL.

The correlation between intimate relationship, self-disclosure, and adaptability among colorectal cancer enterostomy patients

“…[ 31 ] In a study on breast cancer, lack of spousal intimacy was also a factor related to the quality of life after breast cancer surgery. [ 32 ] The results of this study are significantly higher than those of the above scholars. This may be related to the location of the CRC and stoma in this study.…”

“…In the study by Manne et al, 21.6% of the spouses of prostate cancer patients expressed dissatisfaction with their couple intimacy [31] . In a study on breast cancer, lack of spousal intimacy was also a factor related to the quality of life after breast cancer surgery [32] . The results of this study are significantly higher than those of the above scholars.…”

Changes and challenges in sexual life experienced by the husbands of women with breast cancer: a qualitative study

“…Furthermore, in another qualitative study in the Iranian context, men’s sexual desire decreased mostly due to mastectomy and treatment complications such as alopecia [ 31 ]. A cohort study revealed that the partners of young BC survivors had more sexual difficulties and less sexual enjoyment compared to the partners of healthy controls [ 42 ]. Undesirable sexual functions have been reported in studies on the sexual issues of women with BC.…”

Psychosocial Experiences, Challenges, and Recommendations for Care Delivery among Partners of Breast Cancer Survivors: A Qualitative Study

“…Moreover, they report poorer quality of life and well-being than other caregiver populations [22][23][24][25]. Partners of BCS indicate more quality of life problems than partners of healthy women up to 14 years after diagnosis and treatment [26], are at increased risk of being hospitalized with an affective disorder [27], and are more likely to use antidepressant medication [28].…”