Carmen Lizette Gálvez-Hernández1,2, María Cecilia González-Robledo3, Regina Barragán-Carrillo2,4, Cynthia Villarreal-Garza2,4,5. 1. Catedrática-CONACYT, Instituto Nacional de Cancerología, Mexico City, Mexico. 2. Joven y Fuerte: Programa para la Atención e Investigación de Mujeres Jóvenes con Cáncer de Mama, Mexico City, Mexico, Mexico. 3. Centro de Investigación en Sistemas de Salud, Instituto Nacional de Salud Pública, Cuernavaca, Mor., Mexico. 4. Centro de Cáncer de Mama, Hospital Zambrano Hellion, Tecnológico de Monterrey, Monterrey, NL, Mexico. 5. Department of Investigation and Breast Tumors, Instituto Nacional de Cancerología, Mexico City, Mexico.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Young women with breast cancer (YWBC) comprise a group of patients with unique biopsychosocial characteristics with a special perception of needs throughout their disease and survivorship. Contexts marked by restricted allocations and economic constraints might further aggravate the struggle of these patients living within limited resource settings and can demand added requirements for them and their families. OBJECTIVE: To analytically explore the existing knowledge regarding the needs of YWBC in low- and middle- income countries (LMICs). METHODS: We conducted a thorough literature review of scientific journal databases available in Spanish and English containing information on YWBC in LMICs. RESULTS: We did not find any publications exclusively assessing this topic in resource-limited settings. We looked for data on the different types of YW need from studies in the region that assessed the needs of breast cancer (BC) patients in general and described in their findings the particularities of young patients. Young BC patients described within the literature present a variety of needs. Those reported most frequently as unmet were related to information needs and psychological counseling, practical and physical assistance, and social and spiritual support. CONCLUSIONS: Published literature on the subject - particularly in Latin America - is extremely scarce. This offers an area of opportunity for conducting further research in this topic that would help improve health professional training and establish health policies in favor of YWBC.
BACKGROUND: Young women with breast cancer (YWBC) comprise a group of patients with unique biopsychosocial characteristics with a special perception of needs throughout their disease and survivorship. Contexts marked by restricted allocations and economic constraints might further aggravate the struggle of these patients living within limited resource settings and can demand added requirements for them and their families. OBJECTIVE: To analytically explore the existing knowledge regarding the needs of YWBC in low- and middle- income countries (LMICs). METHODS: We conducted a thorough literature review of scientific journal databases available in Spanish and English containing information on YWBC in LMICs. RESULTS: We did not find any publications exclusively assessing this topic in resource-limited settings. We looked for data on the different types of YW need from studies in the region that assessed the needs of breast cancer (BC) patients in general and described in their findings the particularities of young patients. Young BC patients described within the literature present a variety of needs. Those reported most frequently as unmet were related to information needs and psychological counseling, practical and physical assistance, and social and spiritual support. CONCLUSIONS: Published literature on the subject - particularly in Latin America - is extremely scarce. This offers an area of opportunity for conducting further research in this topic that would help improve health professional training and establish health policies in favor of YWBC.
Authors: Cynthia Villarreal-Garza; Alejandra Platas; Melina Miaja; Alan Fonseca; Fernanda Mesa-Chavez; Marisol Garcia-Garcia; Judy-Anne Chapman; Edna A Lopez-Martinez; Claudia Pineda; Alejandro Mohar; Carmen L Galvez-Hernandez; Andrea Castro-Sanchez; Bertha-Alejandra Martinez-Cannon; Regina Barragan-Carrillo; Jose F Muñoz-Lozano; Paul Goss; Juan E Bargallo-Rocha; Dione Aguilar; Servando Cardona; Mauricio Canavati Journal: JCO Glob Oncol Date: 2020-03
Authors: Gerhard Stauch; Peter Fritz; Rauofi Rokai; Atiq Sediqi; Haroon Firooz; Hans Ullrich Voelker; Michael Weinhara; Joachim Mollin; Bishara Soudah; Peter Dalquen; Friedhelm Brinckmann; Jürgen Dippon Journal: Int J Breast Cancer Date: 2021-07-30