Abstract

Breast cancer is the most common malignancies and leading cause of death in women. The breast cancer diagnosis entails the stigma of pain, suffering and death mainly because it is associated with losing one’s breast which is highly valued and significant in most of the cultures, respecting a part of female identity. The breast cancer diagnosis and its treatment motivate changes in the woman’s body image and are also responsible for distancing from their daily activities.

Objectives: To assess the coping strategies among breast cancer patients.

Methods: 100 breast cancer patients were interviewed by using Modified folk man and Lazarus ways of coping scale for assessing the coping strategies.

Results and conclusion: Findings revealed that, 52% had moderate level of coping, 28% had adequate level of coping and 20% had low level of coping.
There was an association between the escape avoidance and residence with the chi square value of 9.619,and positive reappraisal and second stage of breast cancer with the chi square value of 17.67 significant at P

Key words: Coping strategies, Breast cancer, Chemotherapy.