Women's coping strategies during the first three months of adjuvant endocrine therapy for breast cancer

Abstract

Aim: The aim was to explore stressful events, experienced problems and used coping strategies during the first three months of undergoing ET.

Design: This study used a mixed method design.

Methods: A consecutive sample of 39 women newly diagnosed with breast cancer were included at the start of their adjuvant endocrine therapy. A daily coping assessment was used to create daily reports about stressful events or experienced problems and coping strategies.

Results: The most frequently reported physical problems were sleeping difficulties. Anxiety was the most reported emotional problem. Patients used both emotion-and problem-focused coping, and sleeping difficulties were coped by relaxing, and anxiety was coped by thinking about something else.

Conclusions: Patients experienced a variety of stressful events or problems during the first three months of endocrine therapy. They also used several coping strategies to endure the treatment.

Keywords: breast cancer; coping strategies; endocrine treatment; experienced problems; oncological treatment; patient‐reported experiences; stressful events.