psycholigical impact of breast cancer diagnosis

Younger women appear to experience greater emotional distress than older women when diagnosed with primary breast cancer.44

Traumatic imagery, such as intrusive thoughts about breast cancer, is more common in younger women.45 Issues of particular concern to younger women include shock and distress at the untimeliness of the diagnosis, a sense of being different and isolated, guilt about the impact on partners, concerns for children,46 and a sense of being a different person with different priorities.47 Limited evidence suggests that younger women will also experience greater emotional distress when diagnosed with a recurrence,48 as this raises fear about the future and the possibility of dying.