Considering the high death rate of women for breast, uterus and ovary cancers, and research findings indicating links between stress, coping and oncologic diseases, this study investigated, in 30 women with and 30 women without cancer, the occurrence of stress in their previous history as well as the importance attached to the it, and their evaluation of its resilience in the health care, social/work and family areas. The results indicated links between the ways of evaluating and facing stressful situations and the illness condition, suggesting that more optimistic and direct patterns of dealing with stress can reduce its impact on human psychological/physiological balance. Given the increasing exposure of women to stress, psychological and educational programs for reducing the impact of stress on the female population are indicated.
psycho-oncology; female cancers; stress; coping
