Allostatic Load as an Insight into the Psychological Burden after Primary Treatment in Women with Breast Cancer: Influence of Physical Side Effects and Pain Perception

Abstract

Breast cancer (BC) diagnosis and treatment have become a cumulative long-standing chronic disease impairment, causing stress and turning into an allostatic load (AL) framework. This study aimed to investigate the relationship between physical issues and mental health in patients with BC after medical treatment. We conducted an observational study of 61 female patients with BC, and clinical and psychological markers have been detected. We conducted descriptive statistics, ANOVA analyses, correlations, and mediation analyses to verify the effect of the comorbidity index on psychological dimensions. The findings showed high levels of distress and moderate pain, and 32.8% of the patients showed moderate physical impairment. Significant effects of “age” and “physical issues” were found. The adult group reported a higher incidence of physical issues, and the group of patients reporting moderate physical impairment seemed more depressed than patients with mild physical issues. Finally, the comorbidity condition mediated the presence of signs of depression. Patients with BC seemed to experience negative emotions related to comorbidities associated with compromised activities of daily living. Our findings highlighted allostatic overload as a predictive framework to better understand the mental health of women with BC diagnoses to tailor effective psychological treatments for enhanced recovery.

Exploring the Potential Link between PFAS Exposure and Endometrial Cancer: A Review of Environmental and Sociodemographic Factors

“…These disruptive effects can elevate allostatic load, a measure of cumulative stress on the body, as the body’s stress response systems continually react to the presence of these pollutants. Elevated allostatic load is recognized as a mediator in developing various chronic diseases, including cancer [ 271 , 272 ]. In the specific context of endometrial cancer, the potential for PFAS-induced stress to contribute to carcinogenesis warrants thorough investigation.…”

Digital and Interactive Health Interventions Minimize the Physical and Psychological Impact of Breast Cancer, Increasing Women’s Quality of Life: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

“…Women with BC can experience emotional distress and have subsequent psychological needs [ 18 ] related to the duration of the disease, surgical or chemical therapies, and impaired body image [ 19 ]. Anxiety and depression are two representative emotional disorders in these patients [ 20 ]. One in three women with BC presents with an anxiety disorder more than 5 years after diagnosis [ 21 , 22 ], which may negatively affect treatment, recurrence, and mortality [ 23 ].…”