Breast cancer survivorship--intersecting gendered discourses in a 5-year follow-up study

In the Shadows of Cancer. Leisure and Subjective Wellbeing of Breast and Ovarian Cancer Patients in Honduras, Nicaragua and Portugal

In contemporary societies, a significant proportion of women will be affected by breast or ovarian cancer over the course of their lives. Dealing with illness is known to impact profoundly on the general quality of life of women, but this assessment is usually made in clinical terms, and less attention is given to the social determinants of quality of life for cancer patients, and to the implications of cancer for their subjective wellbeing. In this article, we specifically discuss the impact of being engaged in a leisure activity for the subjective wellbeing of women experiencing breast or ovarian cancer. Based on an exploratory comparative study among Honduras, Nicaragua and Portugal, we analyze the influence of leisure engagement, country of residence, treatment and social support for the subjective wellbeing of women dealing with cancer, proposing a discussion on the intersections of wellbeing, leisure and illness. The research was supported by a survey applied to 128 women diagnosed with breast and ovarian cancer. Significant relationships were found amongst subjective wellbeing, leisure engagement, country and support from patients’ associations. Results highlight the need to consider the effects of leisure among cancer patients, and the importance of institutionalized support to improve their quality of life.

Art therapy and self-image: A 5-year follow-up art therapy RCT study of women diagnosed with breast cancer

Objective

This follow-up study on perceived self-image and psychophysical distress/psychic symptoms was based on a ranomized contolled study of art therapy on women with breast cancer.

Method

The aim was to examine the long-term effects of time-limited art therapy using the instruments of Structural Analysis of Social Behavior (SASB) and Symptom Check List-90 (SCL-90).

Results

Three attachment clusters of the SASB showed significant changes post therapy: Autonomous self (cluster 1), Accepting self (cluster 2), and Loving self (cluster 3). Clusters 2 and 3 continued to change in favor of the intervention group at the 5-year follow-up. There were no significant differences in the SCL-90 results between the intervention group and the control group in the follow-up study.

Significance of results

The art therapy intervention was both therapeutic and psycho-educative. The conclusion of this study is that approaching emotions through time-limited art therapy seems to have a long-lasting effect on the attachment behavioral system shown in the SASB model post intervention, and this effect remained 5 years later.

Exploring Gender-Related Experiences of Cancer Survivors Through Creative Arts: A Scoping Review

Negative health consequences of cancer and its treatments are multifaceted. Research suggests numerous psychosocial benefits may be gained by cancer survivors who engage in arts-based practices. To grasp the breadth of this literature, we undertook a scoping review exploring the intersection between arts-based practices, gender, and cancer. Three databases were searched according to the following criteria: (a) participants older than 18 years, (b) use of arts-based practices, (c) explore cancer survivorship, and (d) gender-based analysis component. A total of 1,109 studies were identified and 11 met inclusion criteria. Themes extracted illustrate four transformative moments related to gender identities postcancer diagnosis: (a) fostering reflection after a cancer diagnosis, (b) constructing new narratives of gender postcancer, (c) navigating gender norms in search of support for new identities, and (d) interrogation of perceived gender norms. Findings demonstrate potential contributions of arts-based practices in shaping cancer-related gender identities. Future research should investigate these experiences across a wider population.

Terapias artísticas y creativas en la mejora del malestar psicológico en mujeres con cáncer de mama. Revisión sistemática

Objetivo: Conocer el estado actual de la eficacia de las terapias artísticas y creativas (TAC) en las variables de malestar psicológico de mujeres con cáncer de mama y delimitarla en función del tipo de TAC y momento terapéutico del paciente. Método: La búsqueda se realizó mediante las bases de datos Pubmed, Web of Science, Psychinfo y Google Academic para el periodo 2010-2016. Resultados: Se obtienen 9 estudios RTC y cuasi-experimentales controlados (2 de Danza movimiento terapia, 1 de Arte Terapia, 1 de Musicoterapia y 5 de Escucha musical) que incluyen 680 participantes. Se discute la calidad metodológica, el riesgo de sesgo y las medidas de eficacia terapéutica. Conclusiones: Las TAC parecen ser una ayuda complementaria a corto plazo durante la fase de tratamiento en cáncer de mama. Sin embargo, son necesarios más ensayos para aclarar los mecanismos subyacentes a la mejora, así como delimitar la eficacia de cada modalidad.