Dr. Adams
04-20-2007, 02:30 PM
"The spouses and partners of cancer survivors experience emotional stress comparable to that seen in the patients themselves, and their long-term social costs may actually be greaterests. These findings highlight the importance of addressing the needs of family members who care for cancer patients, and who may be suffering in silence. Cancer occurs in the context of a family that is profoundly affected by the experience, and that needs intervention for their own well-being.
Compared to the cancer survivors, their partners reported better physical health, which was on par with that seen in controls. By contrast, partners of survivors had fatigue and cognitive dysfunction scores that were higher than controls, but lower than survivors. Depressive symptoms, sleep problems, and sexual difficulties were also more common in partners of survivors than in controls.
Depression was more likely to be addressed in survivors than in their partners. Moreover, relative to survivors and controls, partners of survivors reported having less social support, dyadic satisfaction, spiritual well-being, and greater loneliness. Partners of survivors also experienced little psychological benefit or "post-traumatic growth" for having overcome a stressful experience."
J Clin Oncol 2007;25:1403-1411.
Compared to the cancer survivors, their partners reported better physical health, which was on par with that seen in controls. By contrast, partners of survivors had fatigue and cognitive dysfunction scores that were higher than controls, but lower than survivors. Depressive symptoms, sleep problems, and sexual difficulties were also more common in partners of survivors than in controls.
Depression was more likely to be addressed in survivors than in their partners. Moreover, relative to survivors and controls, partners of survivors reported having less social support, dyadic satisfaction, spiritual well-being, and greater loneliness. Partners of survivors also experienced little psychological benefit or "post-traumatic growth" for having overcome a stressful experience."
J Clin Oncol 2007;25:1403-1411.