Influencing factors of posttraumatic growth in breast cancer patients : A descriptive literature review

Abstract: WHO(2015) claimed that breast cancer is the most common cancer among women in developed andless developed countries. The number of women diagnosed is much higher in high-income countries likedeveloped countries than in low- and middle-income countries like developing countries, in part becauseearly detection programs are better in developed countries than in developing countries, and becausedeveloping countries lack health care resources and infrastructure, which makes breast cancer treatment achallenge(Taurin & Alkhalifa, 2020). International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) (2021) datashow that in 2020 female breast cancer has become the most common type of cancer in the world,accounting for more than 10% of all new cancer cases, with 2.3 million diagnosed, for the first timesurpassing the number of new cases of lung cancer, and has become the most common cause of cancer deathin women. The incidence of breast cancer differs significantly between men and women, with men's ratesbeing nearly 100 times lower than women's, and the incidence and mortality of breast cancer in women islargely related to geographic location and socioeconomic(Taurin & Alkhalifa, 2020).Breast cancer is usuallyprevented through early detection and treated through the use of raloxifene or other anti-estrogens, targetedtherapy, radiation therapy, surgery and chemotherapy.(Akram et al., 2017).The loss of breasts can lead to asexual feelings and loss of self-image, which can lead to depression inmost women, as well as psychosocial distortions(Akram et al., 2017). PTG can provide patients with apositive perspective, help victims transform pain into positive psychology, so as to improve their quality oflife and promote the prognosis of breast cancer patients. Therefore, PTG also plays an important role in thetreatment of breast cancer.In general, PTG offers hope for adverse events and a potentially positive perspective (Tedeschi &Calhoun, 2004).Helping trauma event survivors to transform pain into positive psychology can effectivelyreduce sadness in cancer patients and help patients identify and develop positive emotions, thus improvingtheir quality of life. However, at present, the domestic research on PTG is still in its infancy, mainly focusedon cancer. In the last decade, some reviews described the factors of PTG in cancer, there have been almostfew reviews on the factors associated with PTG in breast cancer patients. This kind of research is benefit fornurses to provide more individual nursing intervention, so as to promote the health of breast cancer patients.Therefore, it is of importance to explore the influencing factors of PTG in them.