Sophie Lewis1, Jasmine Yee2, Sharon Kilbreath3, Karen Willis4. 1. Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Sydney, Australia. Electronic address: sophie.lewis@sydney.edu.au. 2. Breast Cancer Research Group, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Sydney, Australia. Electronic address: jasmine.yee@sydney.edu.au. 3. Discipline of Physiotherapy, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Sydney, Australia. Electronic address: sharon.kilbreath@sydney.edu.au. 4. Faculty of Health Sciences, Australian Catholic University, Postal Address: Locked Bag 4115, Fitzroy, Vic, 3065, Australia. Electronic address: karen.willis@acu.edu.au.
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this qualitative research was to identify the healthcare, information and support needs of women living with metastatic breast cancer. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Semi-structured qualitative interviews were conducted with 18 women. Women were asked about their experiences of living with metastatic breast cancer and their information and support needs. RESULTS: Women valued relationships with their healthcare professionals, particularly their oncologists. They wanted more attention paid to side-effects of ongoing treatments, which had a negative impact on their health. While oncologists were a primary source of information, women also drew on other sources. There were mixed findings about the value of support groups, with women preferring to seek alternative sources of social support. CONCLUSION: A diagnosis of metastatic breast cancer brings heightened reliance on healthcare professionals to respond to women's needs in a way that is different to that required with a diagnosis of early breast cancer.
OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this qualitative research was to identify the healthcare, information and support needs of women living with metastatic breast cancer. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Semi-structured qualitative interviews were conducted with 18 women. Women were asked about their experiences of living with metastatic breast cancer and their information and support needs. RESULTS:Women valued relationships with their healthcare professionals, particularly their oncologists. They wanted more attention paid to side-effects of ongoing treatments, which had a negative impact on their health. While oncologists were a primary source of information, women also drew on other sources. There were mixed findings about the value of support groups, with women preferring to seek alternative sources of social support. CONCLUSION: A diagnosis of metastatic breast cancer brings heightened reliance on healthcare professionals to respond to women's needs in a way that is different to that required with a diagnosis of early breast cancer.
Authors: Emma Kemp; Bogda Koczwara; Phyllis Butow; Jane Turner; Afaf Girgis; Penelope Schofield; Nicholas Hulbert-Williams; Janelle Levesque; Danielle Spence; Sina Vatandoust; Ganessan Kichenadasse; Amitesh Roy; Shawgi Sukumaran; Christos S Karapetis; Caroline Richards; Michael Fitzgerald; Lisa Beatty Journal: Support Care Cancer Date: 2018-04-24 Impact factor: 3.603