This research will focus on identifying avenues for improving the quality of life of young women with breast cancer who endorse reproductive concerns due to cancer diagnosis and treatment, as there is an increased likelihood of distress and decreased likelihood of receiving information and appropriate psychological care. Existential distress appears to play a role in coping with infertility due to cancer (8) and thus the relationship between this distress and the other types of reproductive concerns warrants further exploration. The proposed project will use a mixed methods design to characterize the relationship between sense of meaning and purpose and psychological distress and assess psychosocial support needs of these young women. It will also assess the experience of the identified partners of these young women.
Establish the relationship between meaning and psychological distress in young women with breast cancer who experienced reproductive concerns due to cancer diagnosis and treatment and their partners.