Breast Cancer 1

Breast Cancer 
Expressive writing in early breast cancer survivors.

One hundred and twenty participants were randomly assigned to one of four groups: a control group (no writing) or one of three expressive writing groups: breast cancer trauma, any self-selected trauma, and facts related to breast cancer. Participants wrote 20 minutes a day for 4 consecutive days. Their quality-of-life was measured at the beginning of the study, at 1 month, and at 6 months after writing. The findings revealed that expressive writing about one’s breast cancer, breast cancer trauma, and facts related to breast cancer, significantly improved the quality-of-life outcome. The authors concluded that expressive writing, focusing the instructions on writing about one’s living and dealing with a diagnosis of breast cancer, is recommended for early breast cancer survivors as a feasible and easily implemented treatment approach to improve quality-of-life.

Craft MA, Davis GC, Paulson RM. (2013). Journal of Advanced Nursing. Feb;69(2):305-15. doi: 10.1111/j.1365-2648.2012.06008.x.  Epub 2012 Apr 11.