Living with Advanced Breast Cancer: A Descriptive Analysis of Survivorship Strategies

Abstract

Survivors of advanced breast cancer (ABC), also known as metavivors, are often left with fewer treatment options in the landscape of a cure culture. Metavivors have unique psychosocial and physical needs distinct from patients with early-stage breast cancer. This analysis delves into side effects commonly experienced by patients with ABC, such as fatigue, anxiety, and cardiotoxicity; how these side effects impact caregiver support, financial toxicity, emotional strain, and spiritual and emotional distress; as well as current strategies for mitigation, including nutrition, exercise, and participation in clinical research. Overall, this analysis is a mandate for additional research to explore novel treatments and implement strategies to maintain and improve patients’ quality of life.

Current scenario of chalcone hybrids with antibreast cancer therapeutic applications

“…[ 5,6 ] Breast cancer patients initially respond well to chemotherapy, but drug‐resistant breast cancer cells usually readily emerge after long exposure to chemotherapeutics, resulting in treatment failure. [ 7,8 ] Moreover, advanced breast cancer with distant metastases is incurable with currently available chemotherapeutics, [ 9,10 ] and the number of incidence and deaths of breast cancer will reach 2.64 million and 1.7 million, respectively, by 2030 if the current morbidity and mortality trend continues. [ 11,12 ] Thus, the development of more effective antibreast cancer agents constitutes a crucial need.…”

Racial and Ethnic Differences in Psychosocial Care Use Among Adults With Metastatic Breast Cancer: A Retrospective Analysis Across Six New York City Health Systems

“…In particular, patients with mBC face numerous unique challenges that affect their psychological well-being, including coping with uncertainty, feeling out of control, being able to achieve their goals, worrying about death, managing complicated emotions, and balancing hope with realistic expectations for the future. 5,6 In addition to depression, anxiety is quite prevalent among adults with mBC, 7 with estimates ranging from 44% to 61% for clinically significant levels of anxiety. 8 Furthermore, studies have found that higher levels of anxiety and stress can increase the risk patients with mBC have for cognitive decline, which can seriously affect quality of life.…”

PERSPECTIVEs on supervised exercise programs in people with metastatic breast cancer- a qualitative study in four European countries

“…Although breast cancer remains the leading cause of female cancer-related death and the median 5-year survival rate for metastatic disease remains low (25%) [ 2 ], earlier detection and advances in oncological treatment have resulted in increasing survival rates [ 3 , 4 ]. Hence, more patients are living with metastatic breast cancer (MBC) and concomitant symptoms of the disease and long-term treatment, such as fatigue, pain, or anxiety [ 5 , 6 ]. As these symptoms contribute to a deterioration of patients’ quality of life (QoL), effective interventions are needed.…”

“…To ensure exercise safety and effectiveness, instruction by a trained professional is advisable [ 19 , 20 ], while the content of an exercise program can be designed according to patients’ perceived barriers, facilitators, and preferences to improve exercise adherence. Previous research on this topic has largely been limited to early-stage breast cancer patients [ 21 , 22 ] or mixed cancer types [ 23 – 26 ], whose needs and preferences may differ from those of patients with MBC [ 5 , 6 ].…”