Psychosocial needs of young breast cancer survivors in Mexico City, Mexico. Academic Article uri icon

Overview

abstract

  • OBJECTIVE: Young breast cancer survivors in Mexico face distinct psychosocial challenges that have not been characterized. This study aims to describe the psychosocial needs of young breast cancer survivors in Mexico at 5 or more years of survivorship, identifying areas of focus for early interventions. METHODS: Breast cancer patients diagnosed at age 40 or prior with 5 or more years since diagnosis were invited to participate in one-on-one 30-60 minute semi-structured audio-recorded interviews at the Instituto Nacional de Cancerología in Mexico City. Transcripts were coded using thematic analysis with NVivo software. RESULTS: 25 women participated. Five major phenomena emerged from analysis: (1) minimization of fertility concerns; (2) persistence of body image disturbance over time; (3) barriers to employment during survivorship; (4) impact on family relationships and social networks; & (5) unmet psychological care and informational needs. CONCLUSIONS: Early interventions with a focus on fertility loss education, access to reconstructive surgery and body image support, guidance during return-to-work, assistance with childcare, integration of psychological care and the fulfillment of informational needs could ameliorate long-term psychological and social distress for young breast cancer survivors in Mexico.

publication date

  • May 22, 2018

Research

keywords

  • Breast Neoplasms
  • Cancer Survivors

Identity

PubMed Central ID

  • PMC5963789

Scopus Document Identifier

  • 85047466203

Digital Object Identifier (DOI)

  • 10.1634/theoncologist.2013-0300

PubMed ID

  • 29787612

Additional Document Info

volume

  • 13

issue

  • 5