Effects of psycho-social stressors on occurrence of breast cancer in women : a retrospective study in Babylon Governorate

الملخص EN

Background : the rapid increase in the cancer burden as breast cancer represents a real crisis for public health and health systems worldwide.

Stressful life events are related to the risk of infected women developing an illness (cancer).

One of the risks psycho- social life stressors which effects directly or indirectly on breast cancer occurrence in women.

Aims of the study : 1.To determine the effects of psychological &social stressors on occurrence of breast cancer in women.

2.

To find out the relationship between breast cancer occurrence and the psychological & social stressors.

Methodology :- A Retrospective Study, a purposive sample of (400) women ; (200) women diagnosed with breast cancer were visited the Merjan Teaching Hospital Oncology Cancer Center in Babylon Governorate as a study group and (200) women free of breast cancer as a control group.

An assessment tool was constructed for the purpose of the study, it was comprised of Socio-Demographic Data, reproductive Data, Information related to woman healthy life style (exercise & nutrition), Information related to breast cancer (stage, side, period, family history) and psychosocial life stressors consist of (19 psychological item) and (11 social items) of 10 years previous breast cancer occurrence divided to two periods (previous 1-5 years) and (previous 6-10 years).

Physical measurements for measuring obesity and overweight of body mass index as well as the medical records to explain in which stage of breast cancer and other details may be assisting this study.

Data were collected from 5 February 2012 to 10 April.

2012.

Analysis of data was performed through the application of descriptive and inferential statistical data analysis approach.

Results : the study demonstrates that the highest percentage (39.5 %) of study sample was in age (50-54) years in comparison with the other age groups for both of study and control groups.

There are a highly significant different at P < 0.01 between the psychological stressors and breast cancer.

While a non-significant at P > 0.05 was reported with the social stressors.