Distress and Resilience After Cancer in Veterans

Abstract

Combat exposure and posttraumatic stress have the potential to affect distress in response to cancer, a common late-life stressor. Models of posttraumatic growth suggest that distress can produce varying avenues for resilience. A primarily male, veteran sample completed interviews regarding how combat exposure and posttraumatic stress relate to distress and growth in cancer survivors. While combat alone did not predict greater distress, combat veterans with current combat-related posttraumatic stress symptoms reported the greatest distress following cancer. These same veterans showed cancer-related growth. This is the first large-scale study examining the relationships among combat, posttraumatic stress, and emotional health following cancer.

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ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

This research is the result of work supported with resources and the use of facilities at the VA Boston Healthcare System and the Michael E. DeBakey Medical Center. We thank the members of the Veterans Cancer Rehabilitation Study (Vetcares) research teams in Boston and in Houston and the Stress, Health and Aging Research Program (SHARP) in Boston. We are indebted to the veterans who have participated in our research studies and allow us to contribute to their healthcare. Funding for this study was provided by the Department of Veterans Affairs Rehabilitation Research and Development Service.

Notes

This article not subject to U.S. copyright law.