Quality of life of African American cancer survivors

Abstract

KEYWORDS: African American, quality of life, cancer survivors, breast cancer, prostate cancer, literature review, integrative research reviews. D espite advances in cancer care and increases in rates of survival over the past decades, cancer is second only to heart disease as the leading cause of death in the United States. 1 African Americans have higher incidence and/or mortality rates and lower rates of survival for many cancers when compared with other racial/ethnic groups. For example, African American men have a 22% higher incidence rate and a 40% higher mortality rate from all cancers combined, compared with Caucasian men.2 African American women, despite having a lower incidence rate, have higher mortality rates from breast cancer when compared with Caucasian women. Although the 5-year survival rate for all cancer types combined has improved for African Americans over the past few decades (56% for those diagnosed before age 45 years, and 44% for those diagnosed at age 75 years and older), this rate continues to lag behind the comparable survival rate for Caucasians. 2 As originally defined by the National Coalition of Cancer Survivorship, an individual is considered a cancer survivor from the time of diagnosis through the Address for reprints:

Physical and Mental Health Among Cancer Survivors

“…Whether there are racial or ethnic differences in mental-health–related quality of life among cancer survivors remains unclear. Several studies have found no racial/ethnic differences [12, 13]; other studies have found that African Americans (commonly breast cancer survivors) report better emotional well-being than whites [16]; and a few studies have reported lower mental-health–related quality of life among Hispanics, Asian Americans, or African Americans [13, 14]. Poor mental health is associated with risk factors and poor outcomes in the general population, where associations have been found between depression and nonadherence to medical treatment [17] and between depression and increased use of medical services [18]; similar associations have been found among cancer survivors, in whom depression has been found to be associated with maladaptive health behaviors and poorer overall survival [19].…”

Predicting physical quality of life among a multiethnic sample of breast cancer survivors

“…Physical symptoms can be the most burdensome and are among the most persistent sequelae of cancer and its treatments. Several studies report that ethnic minority BCS showed notably poorer outcomes in PQOL specifically, compared to European American survivors [14,[63][64][65][66]. This small but growing body of research suggests that ethnic variability in overall HRQOL and PQOL exists.…”

Understanding the Psychosocial Issues of African American Couples Surviving Prostate Cancer

“…The most often cited limitation is the non-representativeness of the study sample, therefore limiting the generalizability of the findings [27]. It also remains poorly understood if these interventions are able to adequately address the socio-cultural factors germane to African Americans that impact health outcomes [27].…”

“…The most often cited limitation is the non-representativeness of the study sample, therefore limiting the generalizability of the findings [27]. It also remains poorly understood if these interventions are able to adequately address the socio-cultural factors germane to African Americans that impact health outcomes [27]. Given the disproportionate impact of this disease on African Americans, it is important to improve upon and expand the current body of science to ensure interventions are developed to specifically address the most salient and unique issues of these survivors.…”

“…The most common approach to examination of the QOL among prostate cancer survivors in general has primarily been relegated to addressing the physical side effects of prostate cancer treatment, such as incontinence, sexual dysfunction, and bowel problems [28–34]. Several studies have examined these issues in the context of spouses [35–45] but relatively very few have focused exclusively on African Americans and their spouses [27, 46–48]. …”