Abstract：
BACKGROUND: Social relationships are important health resources and may be investigated as social networks. We measured cancer patients\' social subnetworks divided into generic social networks (people known to the patients) and disease-specific social networks (the persons talked to about the cancer) during 3 years after diagnosis.
METHODS: Newly diagnosed patients with localized breast cancer (n = 222), lymphoma (n = 102), and prostate cancer (n = 141) completed a questionnaire on their social subnetworks at 2-5 months after diagnosis and 9, 18, and 36 months thereafter. Generic and cancer-specific numbers of persons of spouse/partner; other family; close relatives, in detail; and friends were recorded as well as cancer-specific numbers of persons in acquaintances; others with cancer; work community; healthcare professionals; and religious, hobby, and civic participation. The data was analyzed with regression models.
RESULTS: At study entry, most patients had a spouse/partner, all had close relatives (the younger, more often parents; and the older, more often adult children with families) and most also friends. The cancer was typically discussed with them, and often with acquaintances and other patients (74-86%). Only minor usually decreasing time trends were seen. However, the numbers of distant relatives and friends were found to strongly increase by the 9-month evaluation (P < 0.001).
CONCLUSIONS: Cancer patients have multiple social relationships and usually talk to them about their cancer soon after diagnosis. Most temporal changes are due to the natural course of life cycle. The cancer widened the patients\' social networks by including other patients and healthcare professionals and by an increased number of relatives and friends.
METHODS: Newly diagnosed patients with localized breast cancer (n = 222), lymphoma (n = 102), and prostate cancer (n = 141) completed a questionnaire on their social subnetworks at 2-5 months after diagnosis and 9, 18, and 36 months thereafter. Generic and cancer-specific numbers of persons of spouse/partner; other family; close relatives, in detail; and friends were recorded as well as cancer-specific numbers of persons in acquaintances; others with cancer; work community; healthcare professionals; and religious, hobby, and civic participation. The data was analyzed with regression models.
RESULTS: At study entry, most patients had a spouse/partner, all had close relatives (the younger, more often parents; and the older, more often adult children with families) and most also friends. The cancer was typically discussed with them, and often with acquaintances and other patients (74-86%). Only minor usually decreasing time trends were seen. However, the numbers of distant relatives and friends were found to strongly increase by the 9-month evaluation (P < 0.001).
CONCLUSIONS: Cancer patients have multiple social relationships and usually talk to them about their cancer soon after diagnosis. Most temporal changes are due to the natural course of life cycle. The cancer widened the patients\' social networks by including other patients and healthcare professionals and by an increased number of relatives and friends.
摘要：
背景：社会关系是重要的健康资源，可以作为社交网络进行研究。我们在诊断后的3年内测量了癌症患者的社交子网络，分为通用社交网络（患者已知的人）和特定疾病的社交网络（与之谈论癌症的人）。
方法：新诊断的局限性乳腺癌患者（n=222），淋巴瘤（n=102），和前列腺癌(n=141)在诊断后2-5个月和9,18和36个月后完成了关于其社交子网络的问卷调查。配偶/伴侣的一般和癌症特定人数；其他家庭；近亲，详细;和朋友被记录以及癌症特定的熟人人数;其他人患有癌症;工作社区;医疗保健专业人员;和宗教,爱好,和公民参与。采用回归模型对数据进行分析。
结果：在研究进入时，大多数患者都有配偶/伴侣，都有近亲(年轻的，更多的时候是父母；年龄越大，更常见的是有家人的成年子女)，大多数也是朋友。通常与他们讨论癌症，并且经常与熟人和其他患者（74-86％）。只有轻微的通常下降的时间趋势。然而,通过9个月的评估，发现远亲和朋友的数量大大增加（P<0.001）。
结论：癌症患者具有多种社会关系，通常在诊断后不久就与他们谈论癌症。大多数时间变化是由于生命周期的自然过程。癌症通过包括其他患者和医疗保健专业人员以及更多的亲戚和朋友来扩大患者的社交网络。
方法：新诊断的局限性乳腺癌患者（n=222），淋巴瘤（n=102），和前列腺癌(n=141)在诊断后2-5个月和9,18和36个月后完成了关于其社交子网络的问卷调查。配偶/伴侣的一般和癌症特定人数；其他家庭；近亲，详细;和朋友被记录以及癌症特定的熟人人数;其他人患有癌症;工作社区;医疗保健专业人员;和宗教,爱好,和公民参与。采用回归模型对数据进行分析。
结果：在研究进入时，大多数患者都有配偶/伴侣，都有近亲(年轻的，更多的时候是父母；年龄越大，更常见的是有家人的成年子女)，大多数也是朋友。通常与他们讨论癌症，并且经常与熟人和其他患者（74-86％）。只有轻微的通常下降的时间趋势。然而,通过9个月的评估，发现远亲和朋友的数量大大增加（P<0.001）。
结论：癌症患者具有多种社会关系，通常在诊断后不久就与他们谈论癌症。大多数时间变化是由于生命周期的自然过程。癌症通过包括其他患者和医疗保健专业人员以及更多的亲戚和朋友来扩大患者的社交网络。
