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Elder Care News
Cancer Patients and Spouses Report Similar Emotional
Distress
Michigan U. study says phase of illness plays big
role in distress, intervention should target spouses, too
 Sept. 20, 2007 – Cancer is a major killer of senior
citizens – number two behind heart disease – and it does not come as
news to many of those over age 65 that a diagnosis of cancer brings a
shared suffering between patient and spouse. A new study from the
University of Michigan Comprehensive Cancer Center confirms that spouses
report similar physical and emotional quality of life as the patient.
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The study found that what really impacted emotional
distress - among both patients and their spouses - was whether the
patient was newly diagnosed, facing a recurrence or living with advanced
disease.
Researchers looked at 263 men with prostate cancer
and their spouses. Participants were recruited from three large cancer
centers. Both the men and their wives completed questionnaires that
assessed quality of life, including physical, social, family, emotional
and functional issues. Patients and spouses each reported on their own
quality of life.
The researchers found little difference in quality
of life between patients and spouses, but found significant differences
based on the phase of their illness. Couples coping with advanced
disease had significantly poorer overall quality of life.
“The spouses of advanced cancer patients are really
carrying the load,” says lead study author Laurel Northouse, Ph.D.,
R.N., co-director of the Socio-Behavioral Program at the U-M
Comprehensive Cancer Center and Mary Lou Willard French Professor of
Nursing at the U-M School of Nursing.
“Cancer is a devastating illness, and a patient’s
primary resource is the partner, who often doesn’t have the information
she needs to deal with these complex problems. This isn’t just a common
cold - this is the person you love and care about dealing with a
life-threatening illness.”
Results of the study appear in the Sept. 20 issue
of the Journal of Clinical Oncology.
Spouses reported lower confidence than patients in
their ability to manage the illness, and more uncertainty about the
illness. Patients also reported more social support than did spouses.
“Doctors, nurses and even family and friends often
focus mainly on the patient who has cancer and don’t realize the illness
has enormous ramifications on the family, especially the spouse,”
Northouse says.
The researchers urge more health care interventions
aimed at emotional distress for both patients and caregivers. At the
same time, caregivers should recognize they too are emotionally affected
by this illness and seek appropriate support. Patients also can play a
role by encouraging their spouse to be actively involved in their care.
“Patients need to recognize this illness affects
their partners as well as themselves. They need to find a way to be
supportive of their partner; for example, including them in interactions
with physicians so the partners get the information they desperately
want. Work as a team together to deal with the illness. I think patients
may underestimate the needs of their partners to get information. Those
partners need first-hand information. If they’re able to go into the
consultation, they’re able to get their questions answered,” Northouse
says.
Editor’s Notes:
Funding for the study was from the National Cancer
Institute.
In addition to Northouse, study authors were James
Montie, M.D., Valassis Professor of Urologic Oncology and chair of
urology at U-M; Howard Sandler, M.D., U-M professor of radiation
oncology; Maha Hussain, M.D., U-M professor of internal medicine and
urology; Kenneth Pienta, M.D., U-M professor of internal medicine and
urology; David Smith, M.D., U-M professor of internal medicine and
urology; Darlene Mood, Ph.D., and Jeffrey Forman, M.D., both from Wayne
State University and Karmanos Cancer Center; Martin Sanda, M.D., from
Harvard Medical School; and Trace Kershaw, Ph.D., from Yale University.
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