Dr. Eric Vachon Explains How Partner Relationships Impact Breast Cancer Survivors' Well-Being

Diagnosis and treatment of breast cancer places significant stress on survivors, their partners, and their relationships. A recent study is one of the first to examine the impact of relationship satisfaction and agreement between breast cancer survivors and their partners on the survivors’ emotional and physical health. The study found that satisfaction with the relationship by both the breast cancer survivor and their partner and agreement between the two were related to survivors’ better physical functioning—such as carrying groceries or walking around the block—and reduced survivor depression and fatigue.

DocWire News spoke with Regenstrief Institute and Indiana University School of Nursing faculty member Eric Vachon, PhD, RN, who led the study.