Emotional support following cancer: a test of the stigma and social activity hypotheses

Reports of changes in emotional support following surgery for breast cancer can be attributed to one of two factors: (1) the stigma associated with cancer, or (2) illness-imposed restrictions in one's activities. These explanations were assessed using data from a longitudinal study of women, following their surgical treatment for early breast cancer (N = 145), gallbladder disease (N = 90), benign breast disease (N = 87), or no surgery (N = 90). Multiple regression analysis was used to test the two models. Contrary to the cancer stigma hypothesis, women with breast cancer initially perceived themselves to have more emotional support, rather than less. Type of surgery did not explain the level of emotional support as post-surgery time increased. Instead, support for the social activity hypothesis was found. The results are interpreted as indicating that breast cancer no longer carries with it a stigma, at least not to the extent of reducing the level of women's emotional support.