Exploring the posttreatment care experiences and unmet needs of breast cancer survivors: a descriptive phenomenological study

Abstract

Background Addressing the unmet needs of breast cancer survivors’ post-treatment are crucial for enhancing their quality of life and promoting their overall health outcomes. This study aims to explore the unmet needs of post-treatment breast cancer survivors within social ecosystems. It provides a patient perspective for the development of a supportive framework that healthcare providers can use to assess and manage these unmet needs. Methods Utilizing a qualitative descriptive design, this study conducted semi-structured interviews with twenty breast cancer survivors. Colaizzi’s 7-step method was employed for data analysis. Results The study identified three themes and nine subthemes: (1) microsystem—normalization and self-growth (management of somatic symptoms and function, maintenance of body image, femininity, and sexuality, and adoption of healthy behaviors); (2) mesosystem—acceptance and respect in the family and workplace (internal to the mesosystem—strengthening family resilience; external to the mesosystem—provision of return-to-work assistance); (3) macrosystem—expansion of the support system (diverse treatment facility support, accessible integration of communities, health and payment policy favoritism, destigmatization of cancer). Conclusion This study offers new insights into the perspectives of breast cancer survivors regarding unmet needs after completing active treatment. It recommends that the interdisciplinary team offers person-centered, integrated, and coordinated supportive care that addresses the individualized and complex needs of post-treatment breast cancer survivors and their caregivers. Future research should focus on developing survivorship care plan models that prioritize personalized support for individuals recovering from breast cancer treatment.