[Mood and body image of women after surgery for breast cancer]

The purpose of the following study is an intensive, longitudinal assessment of psychophysical well-being, stress and stress development after breast cancer diagnosis and surgery. 15 patients were investigated by means of a semistructured diary guiding to systematic daily self-observation during the first ninety days after primary treatment. Although the general trend over time is positive, the results show a considerable variability in the development of mood and body states which cannot exhaustively be explained by medical parameters. The experience of stress is often related to somatic disorders and adjuvant treatment. The results afford an insight in the psychological characteristics of this difficult period and may help to support the patient's rehabilitation more efficiently.