Breast cancer: better to be surrounded by rich

For some time I wanted to talk about the new study but the news does not let me the opportunity. Conducted by the Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center (VICC) and the Shanghai Institute of Preventive Medicine, she was recently published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology. Quality of life of 2230 women followed for about 4.8 years after their breast cancer was evaluated and the impact on possible relapses quantified. The results clearly indicate that the social well-being affects the prognosis of the disease. And the risk is not negligible since recorded 6 months after treatment 48% recurrence and 38% fewer deaths among women reporting a better quality of life! Impressive figures, you will agree!

But what are the social welfare? How do we define quality of life? The World Health Organization (WHO) in 1994 attempted to answer [the quality of life is] "an individual's perception of its place in existence, in the context of culture and value system in which he lives, in relation to its objectives, expectations, standards and concerns. This is a broad conceptual field, including in complex physical health of the person's psychological state, level of independence, social relationships, personal beliefs and relationship to the particularities of their environment ". Not so simple! Researchers agree on a definition summarized in four criteria that the merit of being clearer. This is called quality of life evolve around:

• The physical state: autonomy, physical
• sensation somatic symptoms as a result of trauma or therapeutic procedures, pain
• The mental state: emotion, anxiety, depression
• Social status and social relationships over the family environment, friendly and professional

Consider these four points one by one:

It seems clear after breast cancer, physical condition is poor especially during the 6 months following treatment. Physical abilities are largely reduced and this, for most of us.

Similarly for point number two, since the consequences of the trauma of cancer are, I think it really present for many years! As for the pain or consequences of the protocols, forget it.

Emotion, anxiety or depression are the lot of many women that are difficult or at least take time to find a mental state that I would call "normal."

Finally, social relations are undoubtedly important, and here we are unfortunately not equal. Family, friends, colleagues will be present, empathic, listening to one who is lucky enough to have been invaluable and to be surrounded. But for others who live a celibate or are still sick, which saw many friends turn their backs, it will in fact not the case.

Added to these four points the concept of the WHO "level of independence." Indeed, what about the financial situation? A woman always easy to live better than someone who is struggling with money problems forcing him to return to work early. Must we conclude that it is better to be married, surrounded by friends, strong and rich rather than alone, frail and poor? Nice observation!

All this leaves me very perplexed. The concept itself is not it subjective? Can we be on the objectivity of the answers? This study is really representative?

Finally, beyond the subjectivity of the concept of social welfare these results raise a problem. If the actual quality of life for some women is involved, how to help them practice? Solutions to improve the physical, psychological or somatic seem obvious: they go through the establishment of a psychological and lower long-term side effects of treatment. Either, but that can help women to surround themselves with friends, caregivers, magnets? Who can provide adequate financial assistance to survive? Singled out issues unfortunately will not be solved by a magic wand.

Posted in: Cancer