gms | German Medical Science

Introduction: Breast cancer is as disease generally attributed to women: 1 of 9 women will suffer from breast cancer during lifetime. Nevertheless it was not until recently that the public became aware of the existence of breast cancer in men. The proportion of breast cancer in male and in female is about 1:100. It is assumed that there are different coping strategies to deal with breast cancer depending on age as well as on gender. The presented data is supposed to underline this gender specific differences concerning depression, body-image, sexuality and coping strategies by means of a standardised questionnaire.

Methods and patients collective: The applied questionnaire contains multiple standardised measuring tools concerning different aspects such as quality of life, coping, psychological and emotional well-being. More than 40 women and men with previously diagnosed breast cancer and adjuvant treatment in the Universitätsfrauenklinik Heidelberg, were contacted by mail and returned questionnaires. Group specific comparisons were drawn considering age and gender.

Conclusion: Respecting different coping strategies in women and men with breast cancer allows a more specific consultation and support by the involved medical institutions. In this minor examined group men were observed to have more difficulties in dealing with their breast cancer.