Stress and immune response in women with mastectomy during treatment with Tamoxifen/Estresse e resposta imunologica em mulheres mastectomizadas durante o tratamento com Tamoxifeno/Estres y respuesta inmunologica en mujeres con mastectomias durante el tratamiento con Tamoxifeno

This study aimed at examining the relation between salivary immunoglobulin A and the level of stress in women with mastectomy on tamoxifen treatment. Data were obtained through interviews with fifty-five women diagnosed with breast cancer, who received treatment with tamoxifen, at the Hospital Santa Rita, in Vitoria, ES, Brazil, from May, 2007 to February, 2008. For statistical analysis of median, standard deviation and Wilcoxon non-parametric test, the Social Package Statistical Science (SPSS) was used. Results showed that women with an intermediate level for stress showed reduction of salivary immunoglobulin A secretion after three months in use with Tamoxifen. It appears that tamoxifen can influence so as to reduce the immune response when in the presence of stress in women with breast cancer.