Breast Cancer Survivors' Perspectives of Care Practices in Western and Alternative Medicine

Abstract

Nurses should be concerned about what care practices mean to breast cancer survivors. Further research should be considered to evaluate the potential contribution of each factor to breast cancer survivors' decision making about care practices.

Psychosocial and cultural reasons for delay in seeking help and nonadherence to treatment in Indonesian women with breast cancer: A qualitative study.

“…Not only women from developing countries worry about the costs of cancer treatment, Western women also perceived medical treatment for breast cancer as expensive (Wanchai, Armer, & Stewart, 2010). Although medical costs were covered by the government health insurance, patient adherence to treatment was still influenced by financial difficulties in paying transportation costs to the hospital, accommodation and other logistical costs, which is similar to previous studies in child leukemia and retinoblastoma patients (Sitaresmi et al, 2010;Sitorus et al, 2009).…”

“…Women used traditional therapy as an alternative solution for their health problem or as a complement to medical treatment. There is ample evidence from previous studies describing that a strong belief in a traditional healer influences patients' behavior and treatment decisions (Agarwal et al, 2009;Hisham & Yip, 2004;Navon, 1999;Wanchai, Armer, & Stewart, 2010). One explanation might be that traditional therapies are less expensive than "Western-type" medical care, treatment without surgery, and do not require expensive travel because traditional healers can be found locally.…”

Enculturation in The Life Pattern of Breast Cancer Patients: An Ethno-Nursing Study on Sundanese Women

“…According to Leininger (2005) and Wanchai et al (2010), when doing a macro ethno-nursing study, 12 to 15 key informants and 24 -30 general informants have great daily needs to fulfill. On the other one, when doing micro ethno-nursing, the researcher needs 6 -8 key informants and 12 -16 general informants.…”

“…Wanchai et al (2010) claim that such choice is based on the perception that they could give benefits by fulfilling patients' need to return to Mother Nature and improving psychological and emotional recovery so that their mind becomes safe and peaceful. On the other hand, Koentjaraningrat (2009) claims that in every society, humans won't be able to ignore knowledge about others.…”

Integrative and complementary practices in oncologic treatment and the role of nursing

“…15 Thus, national and international literature reveals that the use of PICs occurs mainly in individuals with malignancies in general as bladder cancer, head and neck, colorectal, kidney, lung, ovarian, prostate, melanoma, skin, gynecological, liver, stomach, lymphoma, leukemia, among others; 3-4,10-11,16-38 being the female audience as participative. 20 In what refers to the specific malignancies, the most discussed in the literature were breast cancer 3,11,20,24,28,[38][39][40][41][42][43] and childhood cancer -lymphoma, leukemia, retinoblastoma and solid tumors. [44][45] In oncology context, the PICs are used in combination with chemotherapy and surgery and clinical cases with poor prognosis.…”