Some Survivors Feel Discriminated Against.(breast cancer)

2001 MAY 17 - (NewsRx Network) -- Although most women report positive benefits from talking to family and friends about their breast cancer, some do experience negative repercussions and others report both workplace and insurance discrimination, according to a new study.

"Most women who survive breast cancer do not experience difficulties related to disclosure about cancer, but a significant minority report negative effects on relationships with friends, family, work, and insurance," says Donna E. Stewart, MD, and associates at the University of Toronto.

The Canadian study surveyed 378 women who had been cancer-free for at least two years, revealing that more than two-thirds had disclosed their disease to friends, children, siblings, or partners and about half told work colleagues, bosses, or supervisors. The majority of those women felt that their disclosure brought them more support, brought them closer to the people they told, or they received more advice. However, 16.6% felt their disclosure made people more distant or caused family or job-related problems, Stewart and colleagues report.

Canada has universal health ...