"Emotional expression can be adaptive for women [with breast cancer]," says lead author Annette L. Stanton, PhD, professor of psychology at the University of Kansas. "It can aid women in both their psychological and physical adjustments at the point of treatment completion and through the next several months."

Stanton and her colleagues explored differences in the coping mechanisms of 92 breast cancer patients. The women completed questionnaires within 20 weeks after treatment and again three months later. The researchers chose this period of time because previous studies have shown it is when women tend to face high distress.

Questionnaires covered issues such as hope, social receptivity, psychological adjustment and health status. Women who expressed their feelings in these areas had fewer medical visits, increased vigor and better physical health. Stanton believes emotional venting helps women clarify their goals and pursue them. "Through expressing emotions, women find out what?s important in life and feel motivated to pursue it," she says.

Debbie Saslow, PhD, national director of breast and cervical cancer for the American Cancer Society (ACS), says that the research confirms "what we already know."

"I think we can be pretty confident that this is a beneficial approach to take," says Saslow. "Of course, it''s always going to depend on the individual woman because there?s going to be some women ? or men, because men get breast cancer, too ? who just can?t do this and will find some other strategies that work for them."

In contrast to the group of women who expressed their emotions, women who processed their emotions, or tried to understand their emotions and search for an answer with regard to their emotions, became increasingly distressed over time. The researchers speculate that prolonged emotional processing may yield diminishing returns.

"I believe what was happening is that the women who were doing emotional processing might have been doing rumination ? going over and over and over their emotions without resolving them," Stanton says.

She suggests women with breast cancer find both social and personal methods of expressing their feelings.

"Finding vehicles for emotional expression is worthwhile," Stanton says. "One of those ways is [talking with] others who can tolerate and support the emotional expression. Other vehicles might work as well ? journal writing, artistic expression ? in addition to talking to people in intimate relationships."

Saslow refers women with breast cancer to the ACS Reach to Recovery program. The 30-year-old program has more than 16,000 volunteer cancer survivors trained to offer one-on-one support in every area of the country. Calling 1-800-ACS-2345 can connect a woman with this program and other ACS resources. These contacts can often provide an outlet for women to express their fears, concerns and hopes.