In the United States, about 11% (26,393) of those diagnosed with breast cancer in 2016 will be young or less than 45 years old. Young breast cancer survivors, compared to older cancer survivors, are a disparate group that experience higher incidence of advanced disease, greater mortality, and poorer quality of life, and are often faced with difficulty locating support that meet the unique needs of young women. The Gulf States Young Breast Cancer Survivor Network, composed of three sister networks, formed a partnership aimed at harnessing the power of social media to reach and impact the lives of young women with breast cancer.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFWomens Health (Lond)
January 2019
Aim: This study was a pilot test of the Latina Breast Cancer Survivorship Intervention, a survivorship self-management intervention delivered via telephone.
Materials And Methods: This study used a wait-list control design with random assignment to either (1) support and early education or (2) support and delayed education. Latina breast cancer survivors were recruited through the Florida Cancer Data System Registry.
Cognitive changes may occur after cancer treatment and interfere with day-to-day activities of breast cancer survivors. Current guidelines recommend validating cognitive concerns, increasing patient education, and suggesting appropriate interventions. Educational programs, including Think Well: Healthy Living to Improve Cognitive Function, can increase the awareness of cognitive changes and provide strategies for self-management to breast cancer survivors and their family and friends.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThe Young Breast Cancer Survivors Network (Network) is an academic and community-based partnership dedicated to education, support, and networking. The Network used a multi-pronged approach via monthly support and networking, annual education seminars, website networking, and individual survivor consultation. Formative and summative evaluations were conducted using group survey and individual survivor interviews for monthly gatherings, annual education meetings, and individual consultation.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: African American (AA) women are more likely to be given a diagnosis of breast cancer at an early age, experience morbidity after treatment, and exhibit disparities in survivorship. Although psychosocial well-being is largely studied among breast cancer survivors, data are sparse regarding young AA survivors.
Objective: This integrative review examined psychosocial concerns in survivorship among young AA survivors using a quality-of-life framework.
Little is known about cognitive changes among African American (AA) breast cancer survivors (BCS). Here, we report our experience with engagement of leaders of urban AA churches in Birmingham, Alabama to deliver and evaluate Think Well: Healthy Living to Improve Cognitive Function, an educational cognitive health program for BCS. The Think Well team engaged leaders of urban AA churches using a 7-step process: 1) identify leaders, 2) develop connection with leaders, 3) assess AA community preferences, 4) tailor for cultural relevance, 5) plan seminars, 6) deliver seminars, and 7) evaluate cultural relevance and overall program quality.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFWomens Health (Lond)
November 2016
Rural breast cancer survivors experience gaps in post-treatment education and support. We report the development and delivery of Reach Out to Rural Breast Cancer Survivors Program. Community-based participatory research and multi-level assessment were used to (a) engage rural community leaders, survivors, and providers; (b) analyze and report results of discussion groups to understand survivorship concerns and preferences; (c) integrate discussion group findings to develop, tailor, and deliver Reach Out; and (d) evaluate Reach Out with regard to satisfaction and helpfulness.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFDisparities in cancer survivorship exist among specific populations of breast cancer survivors, specifically rural African American breast cancer survivors (AA-BCS). While effective survivorship interventions are available to address and improve quality of life, interventions must be culturally tailored for relevance to survivors. Here, we report the results of our formative research using focus groups and in-depth interview to better understand unique rural AA-BCS survivorship experiences and needs in the Alabama Black Belt.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFAim: About 120,000 Latina breast cancer survivors (LBCS) live in the USA with the numbers expected to increase. LBCS experience survivorship disparities and report poor quality of life outcomes. Despite poor outcomes, few survivorship interventions for LBCS are available.
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