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Joan R. Bloom

Bio: Joan R. Bloom is an academic researcher from University of California, Berkeley. The author has contributed to research in topics: Breast cancer & Capitation. The author has an hindex of 38, co-authored 110 publications receiving 7235 citations. Previous affiliations of Joan R. Bloom include Cancer Prevention Institute of California & University of California.


Papers
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Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: Objective evidence is provided that a supportive group intervention for patients with metastatic cancer results in psychological benefit and mechanisms underlying the effectiveness of this group intervention are explored.
Abstract: • The effects of weekly supportive group meetings for women with metastatic carcinoma of the breast were systematically evaluated in a one-year, randomized, prospective outcome study. The groups focused on the problems of terminal illness, including improving relationships with family, friends, and physicians and living as fully as possible in the face of death. We hypothesized that this intervention would lead to improved mood, coping strategies, and self-esteem among those in the treatment group. Eighty-six patients were tested at four-month intervals. The treatment group had significantly lower mooddisturbance scores on the Profile of Mood States scale, had fewer maladaptive coping responses, and were less phobic than the control group. This study provides objective evidence that a supportive group intervention for patients with metastatic cancer results in psychological benefit. Mechanisms underlying the effectiveness of this group intervention are explored.

824 citations

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TL;DR: The frequency of body image and sexual problems in the first months after treatment among women diagnosed with breast cancer at age 50 or younger is determined.
Abstract: Purpose: The purpose of this study was to determine the frequency of body image and sexual problems in the first months after treatment among women diagnosed with breast cancer at age 50 or younger. Background: Breast cancer treatment may have severe effects on the bodies of younger women. Surgical treatment may be disfiguring, chemotherapy may cause abrupt menopause, and hormone replacement is not recommended. Methods: A multi-ethnic population-based sample of 549 women aged 22–50 who were married or in a stable unmarried relationship were interviewed within seven months of diagnosis with in situ, local, or regional breast cancer. Results: Body image and sexual problems were experienced by a substantial proportion of women in the early months after diagnosis. Half of the 546 women experienced two or more body image problems some of the time (33%), or at least one problem much of the time (17%). Among sexually active women, greater body image problems were associated with mastectomy and possible reconstruction, hair loss from chemotherapy, concern with weight gain or loss, poorer mental health, lower self-esteem, and partner's difficulty understanding one's feelings. Among the 360 sexually active women, half (52%) reported having a little problem in two or more areas of sexual functioning (24%), or a definite or serious problem in at least one area (28%). Greater sexual problems were associated with vaginal dryness, poorer mental health, being married, partner's difficulty understanding one's feelings, and more body image problems, and there were significant ethnic differences in reported severity. Conclusions: Difficulties related to sexuality and sexual functioning were common and occurred soon after surgical and adjuvant treatment. Addressing these problems is essential to improve the quality of life of young women with breast cancer. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

810 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: Changes in pain measures were significantly correlated with changes in self-rated total mood disturbance on the Profile of Mood States and with its anxiety, depression, and fatigue subscales, and possible mechanisms for the effectiveness of these interventions are discussed.
Abstract: The pain and mood disturbance of 54 women with metastatic carcinoma of the breast were studied over the course of one year. A random sample was offered weekly group therapy during the year, with or without self-hypnosis training directed toward enhancing their competence at mastering pain and stress related to cancer. Both treatment groups demonstrated significantly less self-rated pain sensation (t = 2.5 p less than 0.02) and suffering (t = 2.17, p less than 0.03) than the control sample. Those who were offered the self-hypnosis training as well as group therapy fared best in controlling the pain sensation (F = 3.1, p less than 0.05). Pain frequency and duration were not affected. Changes in pain measures were significantly correlated with changes in self-rated total mood disturbance on the Profile of Mood States and with its anxiety, depression, and fatigue subscales. Possible mechanisms for the effectiveness of these interventions are discussed.

441 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: A large number of women under age 50, a quarter of all cases of breast cancer, are especially vulnerable to physical and psychosocial late effects of their treatment due to having more aggressive treatment and their relative youth.
Abstract: Background: Women under age 50, a quarter of all cases of breast cancer, are especially vulnerable to physical and psychosocial late effects of their treatment due to having more aggressive treatment and their relative youth. Methods: In person interviews were conducted with the population-based sample: 185 women who were under 50 at diagnosis and were cancer-free 5 years later. Quality of life in the physical, psychological, social, and spiritual domains was assessed and compared with results obtained a few months after diagnosis. Results: Five years after diagnosis, 92% rated their health as good or excellent, and only 10% said their health had been getting worse. Between baseline and 5 years, there were significant improvements in surgical symptoms, body image, worry about the future, patient–physician communication, intrusiveness of treatment, and all of the SF-36 measures except for general health. There were significant decreases in emotional support and the size of one's social network. More women were now menopausal (75% due to treatment) and there were fewer children at home. There were no significant changes in employment status, marital/partner status, sexual activity, sexual problems, self-esteem, and attendance at religious services or frequency of prayer. In multivariate models, a greater increase in physical quality of life was associated with reporting fewer chronic conditions, being employed, having been treated by chemotherapy and fewer had no children under age 18 living at home. A greater increase in mental quality of life was associated with fewer chronic conditions and a smaller decrease in emotional support. Conclusions: Five years after diagnosis, young breast cancer survivors who remained cancer-free enjoyed good health and improved quality of life. Nonetheless, physical, social, and psychological concerns must be addressed so that young breast cancer survivors will continue to be resilient as they age. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

388 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: Two indicators of social support, perception of family cohesiveness and the amount of social contact have direct effects on coping and indirect effects on all three measures of adjustment, indicating that coping mediates the relationship between social support and adjustment.

323 citations


Cited by
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TL;DR: Reading a book as this basics of qualitative research grounded theory procedures and techniques and other references can enrich your life quality.

13,415 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: The development and evaluation of a brief, multidimensional, self-administered, social support survey that was developed for patients in the Medical Outcomes Study (MOS), a two-year study of patients with chronic conditions is described.

5,617 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: These guidelines include recommendations for obtaining semantic, idiomatic, experiential and conceptual equivalence in translation by using back-translation techniques and committee review, pre-testing techniques and re-examining the weight of scores.

5,114 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
10 Jul 1987-Science
TL;DR: Research on the risks associated with usual aging and strategies to modify them should help elucidate how a transition from usual to successful aging can be facilitated.
Abstract: Research in aging has emphasized average age-related losses and neglected the substantial heterogeneity of older persons. The effects of the aging process itself have been exaggerated, and the modifying effects of diet, exercise, personal habits, and psychosocial factors underestimated. Within the category of normal aging, a distinction can be made between usual aging, in which extrinsic factors heighten the effects of aging alone, and successful aging, in which extrinsic factors play a neutral or positive role. Research on the risks associated with usual aging and strategies to modify them should help elucidate how a transition from usual to successful aging can be facilitated.

2,809 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: The effect of psychosocial intervention on time of survival of 86 patients with metastatic breast cancer was studied prospectively and survival plots indicated that divergence in survival began at 20 months after entry, or 8 months after intervention ended.

2,248 citations