Managing psychosocial issues faced by young women with breast cancer at the time of diagnosis and during active treatment

Abstract

Purpose of review This review examines recent literature on the psychosocial needs of and interventions for young women. We focus on the active treatment period given the toxicity of treatment, the incidence of anxiety, and depressive symptoms in these women during treatment. This review summarizes research relevant to addressing their social and emotional concerns. Recent findings Young women undergoing treatment for breast cancer remain understudied despite unique needs. Psychoeducational interventions help to relieve symptoms and emotional distress during treatment, but effects do not appear to persist over the longer term. In the clinical context, the performance of prognostic-risk prediction models in this population is poor. Surgical decision-making is often driven by fear of recurrence and body image rather than prognosis, and decision aids may help young women to synthesize information to preserve their role in the treatment process. Summary First, shared decision-making, second, balancing body image, fear of recurrence, and recommended treatment, and third, palliative care for metastasis are essential research priorities for the clinical setting. In the larger social context, unique family/partner dynamics as well as financial and insurance concerns warrant particular attention in this population.

Childbearing across borders: Fertility and parenthood attitudes and decisions among breast cancer survivors in USA and Portugal

“…It is also imperative that patients are counselled regarding alternative family building options for those who were unable to use preservation methods or for whom those methods were unsuccessful. Research indicates many survivors assume an increased cancer risk for their children without consulting a genetic counsellor [28]. These findings reinforce the premise that survivors’ reproductive counselling needs do not end after the consultation for FP.…”

Psychological Impact of Alterations in Sexuality, Fertility, and Body Image in Young Breast Cancer Patients and Their Partners

“…The diagnosis and treatment of BC affect physical, psychological, and social aspects of everyday life. These impacts occur at diagnosis, during treatment, and along survivorship [2][3][4] . Being diagnosed with a life-threatening disease, such as BC, interferes with life plans and results on the perception of cancer as a highly disruptive illness 5 .…”

Cancer care for adolescents and young adults in Jordan

“…In Jordan and many neighbouring countries, breast cancer tends to be diagnosed at an earlier age. As reported by the JCR, the median age at diagnosis had not changed over the last 12 Breast cancer in younger patients tends to be associated with more aggressive features (15)(16)(17), leading to poorer prognosis and a need for more aggressive treatment, which results in a higher likelihood of longterm treatment-related toxicity, and unique psychosocial concerns (18).…”