The diagnosis of breast cancer, the most common type of cancer amongAmerican women, elicits greater distress than any other diagnosis, regardless of prognosis (National Cancer Institute [NCI], 1997; Stechlin & Beach, 1966; Vinokur, Threatt, Caplan, & Zimmerman, 1989). The aim of this article is to shed more light on the relationship between quality of life and aspects of the psychosocial experience for women with breast cancer. Further, we hope to provide information that will help health care professionals better understand quality of life and psychosocial issues for women with breast cancer in attempt to aug- ment clinical interventions and care. Ultimately, we suggest that the biomedical model.
