This article presents a framework for studying changes in and variables associated with functional status after diagnosis of breast cancer. Functional status is defined as the woman's performance of activities related to her possible multiple roles of spouse, parent, homemaker, community member, and worker. Roy's Adaptation Model of Nursing serves as the overall conceptual model. A review of the research literature provides support for relationships linking psychological state, interpersonal relationships, immune status, treatment regimen, severity of disease, and demographic factors with functional status.