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Supportive care in cancer : official journal of the Multinational Association of Supportive Care in Cancer
Jan, 2022;30 (1): 177-185.

The untold story of late effects: a qualitative analysis of breast cancer survivors' emotional responses to late effects.

Jodie Rosenberg, Phyllis N Butow, Joanne M Shaw
Author Information
  1. Jodie Rosenberg: School of Psychology, Faculty of Science, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia. jodie.rosenberg@sydney.edu.au. ORCID
  2. Phyllis N Butow: School of Psychology, Faculty of Science, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia. ORCID
  3. Joanne M Shaw: School of Psychology, Faculty of Science, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia. ORCID
PMID: 34245359 DOI: 10.1007/s00520-021-06402-7

Abstract

PURPOSE: Breast cancer survivors are at increased risk of adverse outcomes, called late effects, years after the completion of active treatment. Late effects can significantly impair physical functioning. The current study aimed to explore breast cancer survivors' experiences of late effects, their emotional responses to existing or potential late effects and their perceived impact.
METHODS: A total of 36 women treated for breast cancer in the last 10 years participated in semi-structured telephone interviews. Participant views were sought with respect to knowledge, experience, and perceived longer-term risk. A thematic analysis was conducted.
RESULTS: Four themes emerged from the data: (1) late effects awareness, (2) framing and coping, (3) uncertainty and (4) management. There was a range of emotional responses to late effects; however, many participants reported being unaware of their risk of late effects. Participants conceptualised late effects as any long-term effect of treatment regardless of the time of onset. Women reported living with constant uncertainty and feared cancer recurrence. Many were focused on managing long-term treatment side effects, rather than late effects.
CONCLUSION: Many women undergo treatment and remain unaware of associated late effect risks. National guidelines recommend patients be informed about late effects; however, the results of this study suggest a gap between policy and practice. Evidence-based interventions are needed to equip women with strategies to physically and emotionally manage late effects.

Keywords

Breast cancer Emotional concerns Late effects Qualitative

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MeSH Term

Breast Neoplasms
Cancer Survivors
Fear
Female
Humans
Neoplasm Recurrence, Local
Survivors
Journal Article
Article has an altmetric score of 1

Word Cloud

Created with Highcharts 10.0.0effectslatecancertreatmentriskbreastemotionalresponseswomenBreastLatestudysurvivors'perceivedanalysisuncertaintyhoweverreportedunawarelong-termeffectManyPURPOSE:survivorsincreasedadverseoutcomescalledyearscompletionactivecansignificantlyimpairphysicalfunctioningcurrentaimedexploreexperiencesexistingpotentialimpactMETHODS:total36treatedlast10 yearsparticipatedsemi-structuredtelephoneinterviewsParticipantviewssoughtrespectknowledgeexperiencelonger-termthematicconductedRESULTS:Fourthemesemergeddata:1awareness2framingcoping34managementrangemanyparticipantsParticipantsconceptualisedregardlesstimeonsetWomenlivingconstantfearedrecurrencefocusedmanagingsideratherCONCLUSION:undergoremainassociatedrisksNationalguidelinesrecommendpatientsinformedresultssuggestgappolicypracticeEvidence-basedinterventionsneededequipstrategiesphysicallyemotionallymanageuntoldstoryeffects:qualitativeEmotionalconcernsQualitative

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