TY - JOUR
T1 - Psychosocial needs of young breast cancer survivors in Mexico City, Mexico
AU - Hubbeling, Harper G.
AU - Rosenberg, Shoshana M.
AU - González-Robledo, Maria Cecilia
AU - Cohn, Julia G.
AU - Villarreal-Garza, Cynthia
AU - Partridge, Ann H.
AU - Knaul, Felicia M.
N1 - Funding Information:
This work was funded by a grant awarded to HGH from the Harvard Medical School Scholars in Medicine Office (https://hms.harvard.edu/ departments/medical-education/student-services/ scholars-medicine-sim). The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript. We extend our gratitude to the women who participated in interviews, generously sharing intimate stories of their YBCS experiences. In particular we thank Abish Romero and Laura Torres for providing feedback on the interview topic guide. Many thanks to Alejandra Platas, Dr. Christian Aguila, Ana Araceli Burgos Gonzáles, César Márquez, Jaime Hidalgo, Regina Barra-gán Carrillo, Cintia Sepulveda, and Laura Ortega Leonard, for help with patient recruitment and interview transcription. Thanks to Lourdes Castillo for translation and to Michael Joseph Graybeal and Dr. Héctor Arreola Ornelas for their essential support.
PY - 2018/5
Y1 - 2018/5
N2 - 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.
AB - 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.
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U2 - 10.1371/journal.pone.0197931
DO - 10.1371/journal.pone.0197931
M3 - Article
C2 - 29787612
AN - SCOPUS:85047466203
VL - 13
JO - PLoS One
JF - PLoS One
SN - 1932-6203
IS - 5
M1 - e0197931
ER -