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Postdiagnosis social networks and breast cancer mortality in the After Breast Cancer Pooling Project.
- Source :
-
Cancer (0008543X) . Apr2017, Vol. 123 Issue 7, p1228-1237. 11p. - Publication Year :
- 2017
-
Abstract
- <bold>Background: </bold>Large social networks have been associated with better overall survival, though not consistently with breast cancer (BC)-specific outcomes. This study evaluated associations of postdiagnosis social networks and BC outcomes in a large cohort.<bold>Methods: </bold>Women from the After Breast Cancer Pooling Project (n = 9267) provided data on social networks within approximately 2 years of their diagnosis. A social network index was derived from information about the presence of a spouse/partner, religious ties, community ties, friendship ties, and numbers of living first-degree relatives. Cox models were used to evaluate associations, and a meta-analysis was used to determine whether effect estimates differed by cohort. Stratification by demographic, social, tumor, and treatment factors was performed.<bold>Results: </bold>There were 1448 recurrences and 1521 deaths (990 due to BC). Associations were similar in 3 of 4 cohorts. After covariate adjustments, socially isolated women (small networks) had higher risks of recurrence (hazard ratio [HR], 1.43; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.15-1.77), BC-specific mortality (HR, 1.64; 95% CI, 1.33-2.03), and total mortality (HR, 1.69; 95% CI, 1.43-1.99) than socially integrated women; associations were stronger in those with stage I/II cancer. In the fourth cohort, there were no significant associations with BC-specific outcomes. A lack of a spouse/partner (P = .02) and community ties (P = .04) predicted higher BC-specific mortality in older white women but not in other women. However, a lack of relatives (P = .02) and friendship ties (P = .01) predicted higher BC-specific mortality in nonwhite women only.<bold>Conclusions: </bold>In a large pooled cohort, larger social networks were associated with better BC-specific and overall survival. Clinicians should assess social network information as a marker of prognosis because critical supports may differ with sociodemographic factors. Cancer 2017;123:1228-1237. © 2016 American Cancer Society. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Subjects :
- *BREAST cancer
*SOCIAL networks
*CANCER-related mortality
*CANCER in women
*BREAST tumor diagnosis
*BREAST tumor treatment
*BREAST tumors
*COMPARATIVE studies
*LONGITUDINAL method
*RESEARCH methodology
*MEDICAL cooperation
*MORTALITY
*HEALTH outcome assessment
*PROGNOSIS
*PSYCHOLOGICAL tests
*PUBLIC health surveillance
*RESEARCH
*RESEARCH funding
*SOCIAL participation
*TUMOR classification
*SOCIAL support
*SOCIOECONOMIC factors
*EVALUATION research
*PROPORTIONAL hazards models
SOCIAL aspects
CANCER & society
Subjects
Details
- Language :
- English
- ISSN :
- 0008543X
- Volume :
- 123
- Issue :
- 7
- Database :
- Academic Search Index
- Journal :
- Cancer (0008543X)
- Publication Type :
- Academic Journal
- Accession number :
- 121975132
- Full Text :
- https://doi.org/10.1002/cncr.30440