Abstract: This study explored the effects of written emotional expression in 24 women who were newly diagnosed (within the first 9 months) with Stage I or Stage II breast cancer. Main objectives were to examine how this intervention impacted health-related quality of life in an ill population and to assess how the intervention works theoretically. Changes in health-related quality of life and cognitive processing were observed from pretest to 4-week posttest, via the FACT-B and PCL-C. Cognitive processing was also examined by assessing changes over time in the experimental group participants' writing samples, via the CPEES. Other objectives were to demonstrate that the intervention works similarly to previous written emotional disclosure studies, by assessing immediate changes in affect from before to after writing, as well as by assessing participants' emotional involvement in their writing, via the PANAS and REQ. Although the predicted outcomes for quality of life and cognitive processing were unsupported in this study, important implications for future research possibilities were gained. Valuable information was revealed by a supplementary qualitative analysis of the experimental group's essays. Themes such as positive re-framing, re-telling their story, disruption to personal control, identity struggles, importance of relationships, fear of death, symptom complaints, and the multilevel impact of breast cancer were found to be pertinent issues. Patterns observed in the quantitative and qualitative findings, along with previous research with breast cancer patients, suggest that written expression can be an effective alternative or conjunctive therapeutic tool for these women.