Web of Scholar ISSN 2518-167X http://webofscholar.com/ 8(17), November 2017 105 PSYCHOSOCIAL PROBLEMS OF WOMEN WITH BREAST CANCER 1 Kristina Zaharieva PhD, 2 Tatyana Atanasova, 3 Desislava Zambeva, 4 Ognyan Sherbanov MD, PhD Bulgaria, Ruse, Ruse University “Angel Kanchev”, Faculty of Public Health and Health Care, Department of “Health Care”; 1 Chief Assistant, Biologist; 2 Assistant; 3 Student; 4 Chief Assistant, Cardiologist ARTICLE INFO ABSTRACT Received 29 September 2017 Accepted 19 October 2017 Published 07 November 2017 KEYWORDS Breast carcinoma is a serious health issue with considerable social and psychosocial consequences around the world, and in Bulgaria, due to the high morbidity, invalidity and mortality rates. This disease is 25.8% of all the oncologic diseases of women and occupies the first place by frequency. Around 3655 new cases are diagnosed annually in Bulgaria. The risk factors for development of breast carcinoma are various. The early detection of the disease could be ensured through regular screenings and tests. The main breast cancer treatment methods are surgery, radiotherapy, chemotherapy, hormone therapy and psychotherapy and usually lead to visible changes in the female body. The oncologic diagnosis leads to a strong psychosocial distress, which includes symptoms of depression and anxiety. Women should be encouraged by a multidisciplinary team. Research: Objective: to establish the respondents’ need of psychosocial support during the different stages of the therapeutic treatment. Research subjects: women with breast cancer at an average age of 42 years. Used tools: questionnaire; interview Research methodology: The research was made during March 2016 – May 2017 and it covered 46 women with breast cancer. Conclusions: In psychological aspect, the respondents receive the strongest support by family and friends; Almost all the respondents need psychosocial support all the time and not only during the medical treatment process. The evolutionary description of the mental status convincingly supports the important place of the psychosocial support in the life of the respondents. Breast cancer is a huge life test not only for the women and their families, but also for the healthcare system and the society as a whole. anxiety, breast cancer, distress, morbidity, psychosocial problems, support © 2017 The Authors. “The most beautiful people we have known are those who have known defeat, known suffering, known struggle, known loss, and have found their way out of those depths. These persons have an appreciation, a sensitivity, and an understanding of life that fills them with compassion, gentleness, and a deep loving concern. Beautiful people do not just happen.” E. Kübler-Ross I. Introduction. Cancer, which is also called malignant tumor or malignant neoplasm, is the general name of a group of diseases connected to abnormal growth of cells with a potential of entering or spreading into other parts of the body [4]. More than 100 types of cancer in people are known [2]. Breast carcinoma is a serious health issue with considerable social and psychosocial consequences not only around the world, but also in Bulgaria, due to the high morbidity, invalidity and mortality rates. According to data of the National Cancer Register, this disease is 25.8 % of all the oncologic diseases of women and it occupies the first place by frequency. Around 3655 new cases of the disease are diagnosed annually in Bulgaria. The risk factors for development of breast carcinoma are various and they include age, previous benign diseases of breasts, heredity, early first menstruation, menopause at a late age, pregnancy well on in years, obesity, low motor activity, use of hormone replacement therapy for menopause, use of contraception medicines, exposure to radiation [3]. The breast cancer morbidity is higher among women who have not given birth, who have not breastfed after pregnancy, who have been using tobacco, alcohol, fat-rich diet, synthetic estrogens and non-steroid anti-inflammatory