Psychological Stress, Neutropenia, and Infectious Disease in Patients Receiving Chemotherapy Treatment for Breast Cancer.

Abstract

Chemotherapy treatment for breast cancer can induce high levels of psychological distress, which are particularly pronounced prior to the first infusion of cytotoxic agents. Previous research raises the possibility that such distress may have effects on patients' subsequent levels of infectious disease during chemotherapy. The initial results of our ongoing study are consistent with this possibility. In a sample of 56 women receiving adjuvant chemotherapy for early stage breast cancer, we found a significant relation between levels of total mood disturbance on the day of the first chemotherapy infusion and patients' subsequent experience of infectious disease across their first three cycles of treatment. We were unable to account for this relation on the basis of demographic variables or relevant medical variables. Results are consistent with the hypothesis that psychological distress may have an impact on patients' risks of infection during chemotherapy.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Jul 01, 1996
Accession Number
ADA314955

Entities

People

  • Dana H Bovbjerg

Organizations

  • Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center

Tags

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Blood
  • Blood Cells
  • Breast Cancer
  • Diseases And Disorders
  • Granulocytes
  • Hematologic Diseases
  • Immune System
  • Infection
  • Infectious Diseases
  • Infusions
  • Leukocytes
  • Materials
  • Medical Personnel
  • Neoplasms
  • Regression Analysis
  • Statistical Analysis
  • Wound Infections

Fields of Study

  • Psychology

Readers

  • Oncology (Cancer Research).
  • Psychological Intervention/Treatment for Stress, Anxiety, PTSD, and Related Emotional and Cognitive Health Symptoms.
  • Women's Health and Cancer Risk Research: African American Women and Pregnancy Outcomes.