Psychosocial Perspective in Breast Cancer: From Diagnosis to Survivorship

Patients diagnosed with breast cancer have a wide range of side effects due to multimodal treatment, from diagnosis to survivorship. Psychosocial problems are the most prominent and prolonged issue that needs to be addressed in detail. The quality of life of patients with breast cancer is not only decreased during the diagnosis but also the burden of treatment, uncertainties about the future, and the side effects of long-term treatment while living with a cancer diagnosis can affect patients negatively during survivorship. Psychosocial issues such as distorted body image, low self-esteem, and sexual problems can be observed along with the main experienceable psychological symptoms like anxiety, depression, anger, and worries about the future or death. Psychosocial problems experienced during breast cancer affect patients and their families, making disease management difficult. Interventions aiming to increase patients’ psychosocial adaptation to the disease should not be ignored from diagnosis to survival. At each stage, interventions should be planned to support patients in improving coping skills and trying to find meaning in the disease. Psychosocial supportive interventions for patients with breast cancer should be considered as part of cancer treatment.