Early-stage breast cancer is not associated with the risk of marital dissolution in a large prospective study of women
Menée en Finlande à partir de données portant sur 134 435 femmes mariées et atteintes d'un cancer du sein de stade précoce (durée médiane de suivi : 17 ans), cette étude prospective évalue le risque de divorce et son association avec divers facteurs sociéconomiques, familiaux et médicaux
Background: As breast cancer and its treatment are likely to interfere with traditional expectations of womanhood, it may affect marital stability. Methods: The risk of marital dissolution was analysed with respect to diagnosis of early-stage (T1–4N0–3M0) breast cancer in a cohort of 134 435 married Finnish women followed for a median of 17.0 married years. Age, socioeconomic status, education, number of children, duration of marriage and earlier marriages were taken into account and the effects of surgery, chemotherapy, radiotherapy and endocrine therapy were analysed separately. Results: Women with a diagnosis of early-stage breast cancer did not show increase in marital dissolution (hazard ratio=0.96, 95% confidence interval=0.79–1.17). Neither the type of surgical procedure nor any of the oncologic treatments was associated with an increase in the risk of divorce. Conclusions: Any evidence of excess risk of marital breakdown after the diagnosis of early-stage breast cancer and its treatment was not demonstrated.