The impact of medication side effects on adherence and persistence to hormone therapy in breast cancer survivors: A qualitative systematic review and thematic synthesis

BACKGROUND: Hormone Therapy (HT) reduces the risk of breast cancer recurrence and mortality in breast cancer. Despite these clinical benefits, rates of HT non-adherence and non-persistence are high. Research suggests this may be due to the impact of HT side effects. However, little research has explored the individual contribution of side effects to non-adherence and non-persistence behaviours. Our aim is to review the literature on breast cancer survivors’ lived experiences of HT side effects and explore how these may be related to non-adherence and non-persistence behaviour.METHODS: Electronic searches were conducted from inception to May 2020, utilising Cochrane CENTRAL, Medline, Embase, Web of Science and PsycINFO databases. Searches included a combination of terms related to breast cancer, adherence, hormone therapy and side effects.RESULTS: Sixteen eligible papers were identified, and study quality was high. Data were thematically synthesised into four analytical themes, which encompassed 13 descriptive sub-themes: ‘Daily impact of side-effects’, ‘Role of Health Care Professionals’, ‘Managing HT side-effects’, and ‘Weighing up the pros and cons’.CONCLUSIONS: HT side effects significantly impact breast cancer survivor’s quality of life. A lack of support from healthcare providers leads to self-management strategies, which negatively affects adherence and persistence behaviour.

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Effects of exercise on physical outcomes of breast cancer survivors receiving hormone therapy – A systematic review and meta-analysis

Maturitas ◽

10.1016/j.maturitas.2020.06.022 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 141 ◽

pp. 71-81 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Leonessa Boing ◽

Melissa de Carvalho Souza Vieira ◽

Jéssica Moratelli ◽

Anke Bergmann ◽

Adriana Coutinho de Azevedo Guimarães

Keyword(s):

Breast Cancer ◽

Systematic Review ◽

Cancer Survivors ◽

Hormone Therapy ◽

Breast Cancer Survivors ◽

Meta Analysis ◽

Physical Outcomes

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THE LANDSCAPE OF ONE BREAST: EMPOWERING BREAST CANCER SURVIVORS THROUGH DEVELOPING A TRANSDISCIPLINARY INTERVENTION FRAMEWORK IN A JIANGMEN BREAST CANCER HOSPITAL IN CHINA

Psychological Applications and Trends 2021 ◽

10.36315/2021inpact003 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Yuk Yee Karen Lee ◽

◽

Kin Yin Li ◽

Keyword(s):

Breast Cancer ◽

Action Research ◽

Side Effects ◽

Cancer Survivors ◽

Gender Stereotypes ◽

Breast Cancer Survivors ◽

Job Market ◽

Treatment Side Effects ◽

Research Findings ◽

The Impact

"Breast cancer is a major concern in women’s health in Mainland China. Literatures demonstrates that women with breast cancer (WBC) need to pay much effort into resisting stigma and the impact of treatment side-effects; they suffer from overwhelming consequences due to bodily disfigurement and all these experiences will be unbeneficial for their mental and sexual health. However, related studies in this area are rare in China. The objectives of this study are 1) To understand WBC’s treatment experiences, 2) To understand what kinds of support should be contained in a transdisciplinary intervention framework (TIP) for Chinese WBC through the lens that is sensitive to gender, societal, cultural and practical experience. In this study, the feminist participatory action research (FPAR) approach containing the four cyclical processes of action research was adopted. WBC’s stories were collected through oral history, group materials such as drawings, theme songs, poetry, handicraft, storytelling, and public speech content; research team members and peer counselors were involved in the development of the model. This study revealed that WBC faces difficulties returning to the job market and discrimination, oppression and gender stereotypes are commonly found in the whole treatment process. WBC suffered from structural stigma, public stigma, and self-stigma. The research findings revealed that forming a critical timeline for intervention is essential, including stage 1: Stage of suspected breast cancer (SS), stage 2: Stage of diagnosis (SD), stage 3: Stage of treatment and prognosis (ST), and stage 4: Stage of rehabilitation and integration (SRI). Risk factors for coping with breast cancer are treatment side effects, changes to body image, fear of being stigmatized both in social networks and the job market, and lack of personal care during hospitalization. Protective factors for coping with breast cancer are the support of health professionals, spouses, and peers with the same experience, enhancing coping strategies, and reduction of symptom distress; all these are crucial to enhance resistance when fighting breast cancer. Benefit finding is crucial for WBC to rebuild their self-respect and identity. Collaboration is essential between 1) Health and medical care, 2) Medical social work, 3) Peer counselor network, and 4) self-help organization to form the TIF for quality care. The research findings are crucial for China Health Bureau to develop medical social services through a lens that is sensitive to gender, societal, cultural, and practical experiences of breast cancer survivors and their families."

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The Impact of Vaginal Laser Treatment for Genitourinary Syndrome of Menopause in Breast Cancer Survivors: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis

Clinical Breast Cancer ◽

10.1016/j.clbc.2019.04.007 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 19 (4) ◽

pp. e556-e562 ◽

Cited By ~ 10

Author(s):

Swati Jha ◽

Lynda Wyld ◽

Priyanka H. Krishnaswamy

Keyword(s):

Breast Cancer ◽

Systematic Review ◽

Cancer Survivors ◽

Laser Treatment ◽

Breast Cancer Survivors ◽

Meta Analysis ◽

Genitourinary Syndrome Of Menopause ◽

The Impact ◽

Genitourinary Syndrome

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Safety of menopausal hormone therapy in breast cancer survivors older than fifty at diagnosis: A systematic review and meta-analysis

The Breast ◽

10.1016/j.breast.2019.06.002 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 47 ◽

pp. 43-55 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Godfrey H. Mudhune ◽

Mike Armour ◽

Kate A. McBride

Keyword(s):

Breast Cancer ◽

Systematic Review ◽

Cancer Survivors ◽

Hormone Therapy ◽

Breast Cancer Survivors ◽

Meta Analysis ◽

Menopausal Hormone Therapy

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Potentially Modifiable Factors Associated with Adherence to Adjuvant Endocrine Therapy among Breast Cancer Survivors: A Systematic Review

Cancers ◽

10.3390/cancers13010107 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 13 (1) ◽

pp. 107

Author(s):

Kirsti Toivonen ◽

Tamara Williamson ◽

Linda Carlson ◽

Lauren Walker ◽

Tavis Campbell

Keyword(s):

Breast Cancer ◽

Systematic Review ◽

Side Effects ◽

Cancer Survivors ◽

Endocrine Therapy ◽

Breast Cancer Survivors ◽

Decisional Balance ◽

Multivariate Models ◽

Factors Associated ◽

Modifiable Factors

Adjuvant endocrine therapy (AET) reduces risk of breast cancer recurrence. However, suboptimal adherence and persistence to AET remain important clinical issues. Understanding factors associated with adherence may help inform efforts to improve use of AET as prescribed. The present systematic review examined potentially modifiable factors associated with adherence to AET in accordance with PRISMA guidelines (PROSPERO registration ID: CRD42019124200). All studies were included, whether factors were significantly associated with adherence or results were null. This review also accounted for the frequency with which a potentially modifiable factor was examined and whether univariate or multivariate models were used. This review also examined whether methodological or sample characteristics were associated with the likelihood of a factor being associated with AET adherence. A total of 68 articles were included. Potentially modifiable factors were grouped into six categories: side effects, attitudes toward AET, psychological factors, healthcare provider-related factors, sociocultural factors, and general/quality of life factors. Side effects were less likely to be associated with adherence in studies with retrospective or cross-sectional than prospective designs. Self-efficacy (psychological factor) and positive decisional balance (attitude toward AET) were the only potentially modifiable factors examined ≥10 times and associated with adherence or persistence ≥75% of the time in both univariate and multivariate models. Self-efficacy and decisional balance (i.e., weight of pros vs. cons) were the potentially modifiable factors most consistently associated with adherence, and hence may be worth focusing on as targets for interventions to improve AET adherence among breast cancer survivors.

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Aromatase inhibitors, arthralgias, and exercise in breast cancer survivors.

Journal of Clinical Oncology ◽

10.1200/jco.2012.30.15_suppl.tps669 ◽

2012 ◽

Vol 30 (15_suppl) ◽

pp. TPS669-TPS669

Author(s):

Melinda Irwin ◽

Brenda Cartmel ◽

Elizabeth Ercolano ◽

Martha Fiellin ◽

Marianna Rothbard ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Breast Cancer ◽

Side Effects ◽

Cancer Survivors ◽

Aromatase Inhibitors ◽

Breast Cancer Survivors ◽

Exercise Intervention ◽

Exercise Adherence ◽

Cancer Center ◽

Markers Of Inflammation ◽

The Impact

TPS669 Background: A substantial number of breast cancer survivors who are taking aromatase inhibitors (AIs) complain of side effects including arthralgias. Given the efficacy of AIs, it is essential that we identify approaches to mitigate arthralgias. We are conducting an NCI-funded trial is to examine the impact of a year-long exercise intervention in 180 breast cancer survivors taking an AI and experiencing at least mild arthralgias. Outcomes include severity of arthralgias, endocrine-related quality of life, % body fat, bone mass, and serum markers of inflammation. The purpose of this abstract is to present preliminary recruitment and adherence results. Methods: Women are being recruited via the Connecticut Tumor Registry and Rapid Case Ascertainment Shared Resource of Yale Cancer Center into the Hormones and Physical Exercise (HOPE) Study. Participants are randomly assigned to exercise (n = 90) or usual care (n = 90). The exercise intervention includes supervised resistance and unsupervised aerobic exercise sessions over 12 months. Data are collected at baseline, 3-, 6-, 9 and 12-months. Results: Study recruitment began in April 2010 and will continue through December 2012. As of January 1, 2012, we have received 1605 names of potentially eligible women. Of these 1605, 777 women are waiting to be screened (e.g., letter mailed to patient or on hold because recently diagnosed), 244 women could not be screened (e.g., unable to contact by phone), and 584 women have completed a telephone screening. Of the 584 women screened, 24% were ineligible because of discontinuing AIs because of arthralgias or chose not to take AIs primarily because of this potential side effect; another 36% were ineligible for various reasons; 24% were not interested; 11% were randomized (n = 65 women); and 5% are undergoing baseline visits (n = 29). On average, women are 62 yrs old and have been taking an AI for 1.8 yrs. Twenty-three women have completed the trial, with high exercise adherence rates (attendance to supervised sessions = 82% ). Conclusions: A growing number of women are choosing to not take AIs or are discontinuing AIs because of side effects. Our study may prove beneficial for the growing number of women diagnosed with hormone receptor-positive breast cancer each year.

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