Abstract
Goals of work
Young women tend to experience many similar issues to that of their older counterparts, although more negatively and intensively. However, they also have specific concerns, which are not so apparent in studies that include a wide age range of participants. The aim of this study was to identify and explore the issues and concerns of Australian women diagnosed with breast cancer before age 41 years.
Participants and methods
We conducted in-depth, semi-structured interviews with a self-selected, convenience sample of 35 Australian women with breast cancer, diagnosed at 40 years of age or younger and no more than 4 years previously. Themes found within the literature about ‘younger’ women up to 50 years of age provided guidance to the interviews. The audiotaped interviews were transcribed verbatim. The data were analysed using the basic analytical principles of data reduction, data display and drawing conclusions. The data were initially subdivided according to the literature-derived themes. Content analysis was performed on the categories developed, revealing the most pressing concerns of participants.
Main results
Second to fear of recurrence and future uncertainty, children and family were the most commonly reported major personal concern. Consumer-related issues and concerns for children and family were equally reported as the greatest general concern of young women with breast cancer. The greatest unmet need of participants was support.
Conclusions
Age-appropriate information and support for this group of young women with breast cancer remains a challenge. This paper suggests ways young Australian women with breast cancer can access additional support with the use of technology.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Australian Institute of Health and Welfare and Australasian Association of Cancer Registries (AIHW & AACR) (2004) Cancer in Australia 2001. AIHW, Cat no. CAN 23. AIHW, Cancer series no. 28, Canberra
Baider L, Kaplan De-Nour A (2000) Cancer and couples—its impact on the healthy partner: methodological considerations. In: Baider L, Cooper CL, Kaplan De-Nour A (eds) Cancer in the family, 2nd edn. Wiley, Chichester, pp 41–52
Beckmann J, Johansen L, Richardt C, Blichert-Toft M (1983) Psychological reactions in younger women operated on for breast cancer. Dan Med Bull 30(Suppl 2):10–13
Bilodeau BA, Degner LF (1996) Information needs, sources of information, and decisional roles in women with breast cancer. Oncol Nurs Forum 23:691–696
Bloom JR (2000) The role of family support in cancer control. In: Baider L, Cooper CL, Kaplan De-Nour A (eds) Cancer in the family, 2nd edn. Wiley, Chichester, pp 53–72
Bloom JR, Kessler L (1994) Risk and timing of counselling and support interventions for younger women. J Natl Cancer Inst Monogr 16:199–206
Bloom JR, Stewart SL, Johnston M, Banks P (1998) Intrusiveness of illness and quality of life in young women with breast cancer. Psychooncology 7:89–100
Breast Cancer Network of Australia (BCNA) (2001) The Beacon, issue 14. Breast Cancer Network of Australia, Auburn
Breast Cancer Network of Australia (BCNA) (2004) Young breast link—YBL. http://www.bcna.org.au/young_women/youngbreastlink.htm. Retrieved 13 Aug 2004
Cawley M, Kostic J, Cappello C (1990) Informational and psychosocial needs of women choosing conservative surgery/primary radiation for early breast cancer. Cancer Nurs 13(2):90–94
Connell S, Patterson C, Newman B (2006) A qualitative analysis of reproductive issues raised by young Australian women with breast cancer. Health Care Women Int 27(1):49–110
Davis-Ali SH, Chesler MA, Chesney BK (1993) Recognizing cancer as a family disease: worries and support reported by patients and spouses. Soc Work Health Care 19(2):45–65
Dunn J, Steginga SK (2000) Young women’s experience of breast cancer. Psychooncology 9:137–146
Ferrell BR, Grant MM, Funk B, Otis-Green S, Garcia N (1997) Quality of life in breast cancer survivors as identified by focus groups. Psychooncology 6:13–23
Galloway S, Graydon J, Harrison D, Evans-Boyden B, Palmer-Wickham S, Burlein-Hall S et al (1997) Informational needs of women with a recent diagnosis of breast cancer: development and initial testing of tool. J Adv Nurs 25:1175–1183
Ghizzani A, Pirtoli L, Bellezza A, Velicogna F (1995) The evaluation of some factors influencing the sexual life of women affected by breast cancer. J Sex Marital Ther 21:57–63
Graydon J, Galloway S, Palmer-Wickham S, Harrison D, Rick-van der Bij L, West P et al (1997) Information needs of women during early treatment of breast cancer. J Adv Nurs 26:59–64
Harrison-Woermke DE, Graydon JE (1993) Perceived information needs of breast cancer patients receiving radiation therapy after excisional biopsy and axillary node dissection. Cancer Nurs 16:449–455
Hartl K, Janni W, Kastner R, Sommer H, Strobl B, Rack B et al (2003) Impact of medical and demographic factors on long-term quality of life and body image of breast cancer patients. Ann Oncol 14:1064–1071
Lewis FM, Woods NF, Hough EE, Bensley LS (1989) The family’s functioning with chronic illness in the mother: the spouse’s perspective. Soc Sci Med 29:1261–1269
Mays N, Pope C (1995) Rigor and qualitative research. Br Med J 311(6997):109–113
Miles MB, Huberman AM (1994) An expanded sourcebook: qualitative data analysis, 2nd edn. Sage, Thousand Oaks, CA
Mor V, Malin M, Allen S (1994) Age differences in psychosocial problems encountered by breast cancer patients. J Natl Cancer Inst Monogr 16:191–197
Neinstein LS (1999) Breast disease in adolescents and young women. Pediatr Clin North Am 46:607–629
Northouse L (1994) Breast cancer in younger women: effects on interpersonal and family relations. J Natl Cancer Inst Monogr 16:183–190
Pisani P, Parkin DM, Bray F, Ferlay J (1999) Estimates of the worldwide mortality from 25 cancers in 1990. Int J Cancer 83:18–29
Pistrang N, Barker C (1995) The partner relationship in psychological response to breast cancer. Soc Sci Med 40:789–797
Rauch PK, Muriel AC, Cassem NH (2002) Parents with cancer: who’s looking after the children? J Clin Oncol 20(21):4399–4402
Redman S, Turner J, Davis C (2003) Improving supportive care for women with breast cancer in Australia: the challenge of modifying health systems. Psychooncology 12:521–531
Reichman BS, Green KB (1994) Breast cancer in young women: effect of chemotherapy on ovarian, fertility and birth defects. J Natl Cancer Inst Monogr 16:125–129
Sabo D, Brown J, Smith C (1986) The male role and mastectomy: support groups and men’s adjustment. J Psychosoc Oncol 4:19–31
Schaefer KM, Ladd EC, Lammers SE, Echenberg RJ (1999) In your skin you are different: women living with ovarian cancer during childbearing years. Qual Health Res 9:227–242
Schover LR (1994) Sexuality and body image in younger women with breast cancer. J Natl Cancer Inst Monogr 16:177–182
Shannon C, Smith IE (2003) Breast cancer in adolescents and young women. Eur J Cancer 39:2632–2642
Siegel K, Gluhoski V, Gorey E (1999) Age-related distress among young women with breast cancer. J Psychosoc Oncol 17:1–20
Spencer SM, Lehman JM, Wynings C, Arena P, Carver CS, Antoni MH et al (1999) Concerns about breast cancer and relations to psychosocial well-being in a multiethnic sample of early-stage patients. Health Psychol 18:159–168
Steginga SK, Dunn J (2001) The young women’s network: a case study in community development. J Community Appl Soc Psychol 11:381–388
Tayler C, Farrell A, Tennent L (2004) Integrated service hubs: potential outcomes for children and communities? Access paper. Centre for Applied Studies in Early Childhood. QUT, Brisbane, Australia. http://www.aare.edu.au/02pap/ten02259.htm. Retrieved 13 Aug 2004
Thewes B, Meiser B, Rickard J, Friedlander M (2003) The fertility- and menopause-related information needs of younger women with a diagnosis of breast cancer: a qualitative study. Psychooncology 12:500–511
Wang X, Cosby LG, Harris MG, Liu T (1999) Major concerns and needs of breast cancer patients. Cancer Nurs 22:157–163
Weihs K, Reiss D (2000) Family reorganization in response to cancer: a developmental perspective. In: Baider L, Cooper CL, Kaplan De-Nour A (eds) Cancer in the family, 2nd edn. Wiley, Chichester, pp 17–40
Wein S (2000) The family in terminal illness. In: Baider L, Cooper CL, Kaplan De-Nour A (eds) Cancer in the family, 2nd edn. Wiley, Chichester, pp 427–442
Wilson S, Morse JM (1991) Living with a wife undergoing chemotherapy. Image J Nurs Scholarsh 23:78–84
Wood R (1994) What is consumer research? Health Forum 32:13–14
Zahlis EH (2001) The child’s worries about the mother’s breast cancer: sources of distress in school-age children. Oncol Nurs Forum 28:1019–1025
Acknowledgement
We are grateful to the participants who allowed us into their lives, without which, this study would not have been possible.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Additional information
Professor Carla Patterson died prior to publication of this article
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Connell, S., Patterson, C. & Newman, B. Issues and concerns of young Australian women with breast cancer. Support Care Cancer 14, 419–426 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00520-005-0003-8
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00520-005-0003-8