Determining the Concerns of Breast Cancer Survivors to Inform Practice

Abstract

Objective: Breast cancer is the most common cancer in women across all ethnicities, accounting for almost one in three incident cancers in female, and the leading cause of mortality in Singapore. Literature reveals that survivors of breast cancer have many concerns, and these concerns can linger on for decades. The primary aim of this secondary analysis was to establish the concerns of breast cancer survivors and use the data to inform practice. Methods: The present report was part of a bigger data designed to evaluate the concerns of cancer survivors (top six cancers) across the survivorship trajectory. Data of 438 breast cancer survivors were derived from a cross-sectional survey of the self-reported concerns of 1107 cancer survivors, using the questionnaire adopted from the Mayo Clinic Cancer Centre's Cancer Survivors Survey of Needs. Logistic regression models were fitted to estimate the odds ratios to assess the association of various variables with the presence of ≥1 concerned or very concerned issue among patients. Linear regression models were fitted to identify the variables associated with quality of life (QOL). Results: A total of 438 breast cancer survivors responded to this survey. The top five concerns were cancer treatment and recurrence risk (55.5%), followed by fear of recurrence (FOR) (54.6%), long-term effects of treatment (53.4%), osteoporosis/bone health (39.0%), and keeping primary care physicians informed (37.4%). Cancer treatment and recurrence risk, FOR, and long-term treatment effects were among the top concerns across the survivorship trajectory. The mean QOL was 7.5 on a scale of 0–10. Conclusions: Irrespective of the cancer trajectory, survivors of breast cancer have serious concerns that warrant attention. Designing patient care delivery that addresses these concerns identified is critical in assisting them in their coping process and enhancing their QOL.

Shared decision making for patients with breast and gynecologic malignancies undergoing chemotherapy associated with persistent alopecia

“…( Spaich et al, 2018 , Siegel et al, 2022 ) The distressing impacts of CIA have been extensively studied in breast cancer, which is the most common cancer in women and typically presents at a relatively young age. ( McGarvey et al, 2001 , Chua et al, 2020 ) Effective screening and treatment options have led to a dramatic increase in the number of breast cancer survivors, many of whom express concerns about the persistent body changes after breast cancer treatments ( SEER ).…”

“…In the United States, the incidence of gynecologic cancers is rising; in 2022, there will be an estimated 65,950 newly diagnosed cases of uterine cancer, 19,880 cases of ovarian cancer, and 14,100 cases of cervical cancer. ( Chua et al, 2020 ) Based on data from 2012 to 2018, the relative 5-year survival rates range from 49.7% for ovarian cancer to 81.3% for uterine cancer. ( Shen et al, 2018 ) Compared to other cancers, significantly less research has been done to explore the impact of CIA in patients with gynecologic cancers undergoing cytotoxic treatment—a population that is often greatly impacted by treatment-related side effects.…”

Unmet supportive care needs of patients with breast cancer: A systematic review

“…In dignity, except an unmet need in body image, more needs regarding disease disclose were also expressed. (+) [52] (+) [52,79] (+) [79] Family income Good (+) [45] Poor (+) [57] Level of education Low (+) […”

A Decision Tree Analysis on Symptom Experience of Asian American Breast Cancer Survivors

“…2,3 Especially during the first year of the survivorship process, the most common survivorship issue among breast cancer survivors is physical and psychological symptoms. 2,3 Furthermore, breast cancer survivors have been reported to have a higher prevalence rate of symptoms compared with survivors with other types of cancer. 4 Despite the importance of symptom management among breast cancer survivors, little is still known about the symptom experience of specific breast cancer survivor populations including Asian Americans.…”

“…1 A number of breast cancer survivors frequently experience various survivorship issues during their treatment process (e.g., chemotherapy, surgery, radiation, and/or hormone therapy). 2,3 Especially during the first year of the survivorship process, the most common survivorship issue among breast cancer survivors is physical and psychological symptoms. 2,3 Furthermore, breast cancer survivors have been reported to have a higher prevalence rate of symptoms compared with survivors with other types of cancer.…”