These tools will no longer be maintained as of December 31, 2024. Archived website can be found here. PubMed4Hh GitHub repository can be found here. Contact NLM Customer Service if you have questions.


Pubmed for Handhelds

PUBMED FOR HANDHELDS

Search MEDLINE/PubMed

  • Title: [When mothers get cancer: psychological effects on children and needs for prevention].
    Author: Pott M, Haagen M, Baldus C, Saha R, Romer G.
    Journal: Zentralbl Gynakol; 2005 Jun; 127(3):114-9. PubMed ID: 15915387.
    Abstract:
    Children having a parent who suffers from a serious somatic disease are at increased risk for mental health problems. Mainly due to the high prevalence of breast cancer diseases children of mothers with cancer are the most studied subgroup of this risk population. In this review the sequelae of a cancer diagnosis on a patient's female identity with respect to the maternal role are illuminated. Then, children's fears, conflicts and stressors that may be typically associated with maternal cancer are differentiated by age groups from a developmental perspective. In several controlled studies children of cancer patients had increased scores in symptom scales. If there are psychic symptoms, these are likely to manifest themselves as anxiety, depression, psychosomatic complaints or social withdrawal. Adolescent daughters of mothers having cancer had an especially increased risk to develop symptoms. The possible impact of a maternal cancer disease on a developing girl's puberty is discussed. In addition, a case vignette of a nine-year-old daughter of a breast cancer patient illustrates psychotherapeutic procedures in a brief intervention, the goal of which was to facilitate talking about fears between mother and daughter. Perspectives of family oriented mental health prevention in the context of gynaecological care are discussed.
    [Abstract] [Full Text] [Related] [New Search]