Research article

Breast cancer, psychological distress and life events among young women

Ronit Peled¹ , Devora Carmil² , Orly Siboni-Samocha³ and Ilana Shoham-Vardi³

¹Department of Health Systems Management, Faculty of Health Sciences, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer Sheva, Israel

²Center for the Study of Psychological Stress, Haifa University, Haifa, Israel

³Department of Epidemiology and Health Services Evaluation, Faculty of Health Sciences, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer Sheva, Israel

author email corresponding author email

BMC Cancer 2008, 8:245doi:10.1186/1471-2407-8-245

Published:	22 August 2008

Abstract

Since 1983, studies have suggested an interaction between the severe life events, psychological distress and the etiology of Cancer. However, these associations are still under dispute.

The aim of the present study was to examine the relationship between life events, psychological distress and Breast Cancer (BC) among young women.

Methods

A case control study. The study population included 622 women, under the age of 45 years. 255 were diagnosed for BC, and 367 were healthy women. A validated Brief Symptom Inventory (BSI) and Life Event Questionnaire were used.

Results

The cases presented significantly higher scores of depression compared to the controls and significant lower scores of happiness and optimism. A significant difference was found when comparing the groups according to the cumulative number of life events (two or more events). A multivariate analysis suggest that exposure to more than one life event is positively associated with BC [Odds Ratio(OR) :1.62 95% Confidence Interval (CI): 1.09–2.40], and that a general feeling of happiness and optimism has a "protective effect" on the etiology of BC. (OR-0.75, 95% CI:0.64–0.86).

Conclusion

Young women who were exposed to a number of life events, should be considered as a risk group for BC and treated accordingly.