Breast cancer is the most common cancer among American women. Now considered a highly “treatable disease” if detected early enough, 94% of patients will move along the cancer continuum -- from diagnosis, through treatment, and emerge into the re-entry period with a good medical prognosis. Despite these statistics and the proliferation of breast cancer information in the media, the psychological impact of breast cancer can be overwhelming, even traumatic, for many women. Further, adaptation and adjustment can vary across individuals and across the cancer stage continuum -- with metastatic disease presenting a different constellation of issues compared to early stage cancer. This course reviews the research on the psychological sequelae of a breast cancer diagnosis including common treatment-related side effects that influence mood, shifts in body image and libido, issues of loss and grief, concerns for family regarding risk.

• Identify the empirical evidence on the psychological adjustment to the diagnosis of breast cancer, across cancer stage.
• Describe common symptoms that correspond to breast cancer treatment (e.g., chemotherapy related fatigue) and how they are distinguished from symptoms related to mood disturbances (e.g., depression) and other psychological syndromes.
• Apply psychological techniques that facilitate adaptation to diagnosis and treatment and identify their clinical application within the breast cancer population.