Psychological Impact and Clinicopathological Profile of Newly Diagnosed Female Breast Cancer Patients in Central India: An Analytical Cross-Sectional Study

Abstract

A BSTRACT Breast cancer is the most prevalent cancer among women globally and is responsible for a significant number of cancer-related deaths. In India, there is a rising incidence of breast cancer, particularly among younger women. This study aims to explore the clinicopathological profile and the psychological impact of breast cancer among newly diagnosed female patients at the Regional Cancer Hospital and Research Centre, Nagpur, Maharashtra. This cross-sectional study was conducted from December 2024 to June 2025. We included newly diagnosed female breast cancer patients with histopathological confirmation. A total of 100 participants were enrolled using a multistage cluster sampling technique to assess clinicopathological profile and psychological distress using the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale. The majority were diagnosed with Stage II (69%), followed by Stage III (16%) and Stage IV (9%). Breast cancer predominantly affected the upper outer quadrant (67%). Psychological assessments revealed that the prevalence of anxiety was 30% (95% CI (confidence interval); 18.5–45.4) and the depression prevalence was 33% (95% CI; 20.3–49.4). An increase in depression was associated with advanced cancer stages ( P = 0.008). Our findings highlight that the majority of patients present with advanced stages of breast cancer, with Stage II being the most common. A significant psychological burden accompanies the diagnosis of breast cancer, with a considerable proportion of patients exhibiting symptoms of anxiety and depression. Therefore, we recommend integrating routine psychological evaluations into cancer care to improve patient outcomes.