Women’s help seeking behaviour for self discovered breast cancer symptoms

2011 ◽  
Vol 15 (5) ◽  
pp. 410-418 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mairin O’Mahony ◽  
Josephine Hegarty ◽  
Geraldine McCarthy
Keyword(s):  
Breast Cancer ◽  
Help Seeking ◽  
Cancer Symptoms ◽  
Help Seeking Behaviour

scholarly journals Presentation of breast cancer, help seeking behaviour and experience of patients in their cancer journey in Singapore: a qualitative study

BMC Cancer ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 20 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Celene W. Q. Ng ◽  
Jennifer N. W. Lim ◽  
Jenny Liu ◽  
Mikael Hartman
Keyword(s):  
Breast Cancer ◽  
Help Seeking ◽  
Financial Burden ◽  
Support Network ◽  
Medical Attention ◽  
Time Interval ◽  
Delayed Presentation ◽  
Cancer Symptoms ◽  
Qualitative Interview Study ◽  
Help Seeking Behaviour

Abstract Background Little is known about the presentation, help seeking behaviour for breast cancer in Singapore. Nor was there a study exploring the experience of patients in their breast cancer journey. Methods A qualitative interview study with thematic analysis, conducted with 36 patients. Results There is no clear pattern of presentation for breast cancer by cancer stage at diagnosis, age and ethnicity in the cancer journey of this group of patients. Patients were diagnosed with early to advanced stages cancer regardless of when they presented or took up treatment in their cancer journey. The reasons patients sought medical attention also did not appear to differ between the stages of cancer diagnosed, ethnic and age. Without setting a measure to define early and late presentation, we found that women shared similar experience in their breast cancer journey, regardless of age, ethnicity and stage of cancer at diagnosis. Poor knowledge of breast cancer (symptoms and causes); few practised regular BSE; denial of symptom; fear of hospitalisation, diagnosis and treatment; worries and stress over financial burden of treatment; misinformation in magazine and online sources; diet; stress; caring responsibility; support network; and use of alternative medicine before and after diagnosis were identified in patients’ narratives. Strong social support; fear of being an emotional and financial burden for the family; and financial worries during treatment were also the recurring themes after diagnosis. Conclusion A measure of breast cancer presentation - that accounts for the patient’s experience in the cancer journey, the time interval and tumour biology – that is meaningful to patients, clinicians and researchers is needed. For research on late and delayed presentation, details on BSE practice – how often, when and was it done correctly – will improve the accuracy of time delay interval. For the public, concerted efforts to improve knowledge of breast cancer, survival and prognosis for early-diagnosed cancer, and the importance of regular and correct technique to perform BSE, are critical and urgent to address the rising breast cancer incidence in the country.

scholarly journals Self-discovered breast cancer symptoms and women's help seeking behaviour: key findings from phase one of a two-phase study

2010 ◽  
pp. 133-132
Author(s):  
Mairin O’Mahony
Keyword(s):  
Breast Cancer ◽  
Health Care ◽  
Health Care Professionals ◽  
Help Seeking ◽  
Western World ◽  
Two Phase ◽  
Cancer Symptoms ◽  
Common Cancer ◽  
Breast Symptom ◽  
Help Seeking Behaviour

Breast cancer is the most common cancer among women in the western world. In Ireland, breast cancer was the most common cancer diagnosed amongst women during 2000-2004 with approximately 3,095 cases reported annually and an average of 947 deaths. It is well known that the earlier the diagnosis of breast cancer is made the more likely it is that women will have a better health outcome. However, 20-30% of women wait for one month or more before presenting to a Health Care Professional with a self discovered breast symptom. This is a worrying situation given the increased emphasis on prompt presentation of symptoms and the associated link with better health care outcomes for women diagnosed with breast cancer. Therefore, more work on help-seeking behaviour from the woman’s perspective will help Health Care Professionals to understand women’s needs and concerns surrounding symptom discovery and highlight the key issues linked to delayed ...

scholarly journals Psychosocial influences on help-seeking behaviour for cancer in low-income and lower middle-income countries: a mixed-methods systematic review

2021 ◽  
Vol 6 (2) ◽  
pp. e004213
Author(s):  
Grace McCutchan ◽  
Bahr Weiss ◽  
Harriet Quinn-Scoggins ◽  
Anh Dao ◽  
Tom Downs ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Systematic Review ◽  
Mixed Methods ◽  
Cancer Treatment ◽  
Help Seeking ◽  
Middle Income ◽  
Cancer Symptoms ◽  
Middle Income Countries ◽  
Help Seeking Behaviour ◽  
Psychosocial Influences

IntroductionStarting cancer treatment early can improve outcomes. Psychosocial factors influencing patients’ medical help-seeking decisions may be particularly important in low and lower middle-income countries (LMIC) where cancer outcomes are poor. Comprehensive review evidence is needed to understand the psychosocial influences on medical help-seeking for cancer symptoms, attendance for diagnosis and starting cancer treatment.MethodsMixed-methods systematic review registered on PROSPERO (CRD42018099057). Peer-reviewed databases were searched until April 2020 for studies assessing patient-related barriers and facilitators to medical help-seeking for cancer symptoms, diagnosis and treatment in adults (18+ years) living in LMICs. Quality of included studies was assessed using the Critical Appraisal Skills Programme tool. Data were synthesised using meta-analytic techniques, meta-ethnography or narrative synthesis as appropriate.ResultsOf 3963 studies identified, 64 were included. In quantitative studies, use of traditional, complementary and alternative medicine (TCAM) was associated with 3.60 higher odds of prolonged medical help-seeking (95% CI 2.06 to 5.14). Qualitative studies suggested that use of TCAM was a key barrier to medical help-seeking in LMICs, and was influenced by causal beliefs, cultural norms and a preference to avoid biomedical treatment. Women face particular barriers, such as needing family permission for help-seeking, and higher stigma for cancer treatment. Additional psychosocial barriers included: shame and stigma associated with cancer such as fear of social rejection (eg, divorce/disownment); limited knowledge of cancer and associated symptoms; and financial and access barriers associated with travel and appointments.ConclusionDue to variable quality of studies, future evaluations would benefit from using validated measures and robust study designs. The use of TCAM and gender influences appear to be important barriers to help-seeking in LMIC. Cancer awareness campaigns developed with LMIC communities need to address cultural influences on medical help-seeking behaviour.

Breast cancer delay: A grounded model of help-seeking behaviour

2011 ◽  
Vol 72 (7) ◽  
pp. 1096-1104 ◽  
Author(s):  
Karla Unger-Saldaña ◽  
Claudia B. Infante-Castañeda
Keyword(s):  
Breast Cancer ◽  
Help Seeking ◽  
Help Seeking Behaviour

scholarly journals Anticipated help seeking behaviour and barriers to seeking care for possible breast and cervical cancer symptoms in Uganda and South Africa

2021 ◽  
Vol 15 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jennifer Moodley ◽  
Deborah Constant ◽  
Amos Deogratius Mwaka ◽  
Suzanne Emilie Scott ◽  
Fiona Mary Walter
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Cervical Cancer ◽  
Help Seeking ◽  
Cancer Symptoms ◽  
Breast And Cervical Cancer ◽  
Help Seeking Behaviour

scholarly journals Is lower symptom recognition associated with socioeconomic inequalities in help-seeking for potential breast cancer symptoms?

2017 ◽  
Vol 27 (2) ◽  
pp. 626-632 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hilary Davies ◽  
Afrodita Marcu ◽  
Peter Vedsted ◽  
Katriina L. Whitaker
Keyword(s):  
Breast Cancer ◽  
Help Seeking ◽  
Socioeconomic Inequalities ◽  
Cancer Symptoms ◽  
Symptom Recognition

scholarly journals Cancer symptom experience and help-seeking behaviour during the COVID-19 pandemic in the UK: a cross-sectional population survey

BMJ Open ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (9) ◽  
pp. e053095
Author(s):  
Harriet D Quinn-Scoggins ◽  
Rebecca Cannings-John ◽  
Yvonne Moriarty ◽  
Victoria Whitelock ◽  
Katriina L Whitaker ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Help Seeking ◽  
Healthcare Services ◽  
Population Based ◽  
Symptom Experience ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Cancer Symptoms ◽  
Persistent Symptoms ◽  
Help Seeking Behaviour ◽  
The Uk ◽  
Potential Cancer

ObjectivesTo understand self-reported potential cancer symptom help-seeking behaviours and attitudes during the first 6 months (March–August 2020) of the UK COVID-19 pandemic.DesignUK population-based survey conducted during August and September 2020. Correlates of help-seeking behaviour were modelled using logistic regression in participants reporting potential cancer symptoms during the previous 6 months. Qualitative telephone interviews with a purposeful subsample of participants, analysed thematically.SettingOnline UK wide survey.Participants7543 adults recruited via Cancer Research UK online panel provider (Dynata) and HealthWise Wales (a national register of ‘research ready’ participants) supplemented with social media (Facebook and Twitter) recruitment. 30 participants were also interviewed.Main outcome measuresSurvey measures included experiences of 15 potential cancer symptoms, help-seeking behaviour, barriers and prompts to help-seeking.ResultsOf 3025 (40.1%) participants who experienced a potential cancer symptom, 44.8% (1355/3025) had not contacted their general practitioner (GP). Odds of help-seeking were higher among participants with disability (adjusted OR (aOR)=1.38, 95% CI 1.11 to 1.71) and who experienced more symptoms (aOR=1.68, 95% CI 1.56 to 1.82), and lower among those who perceived COVID-19 as the cause of symptom(s) (aOR=0.36, 95% CI 0.25 to 0.52). Barriers included worries about wasting the doctor’s time (1158/7543, 15.4%), putting strain on healthcare services (945, 12.6%) and not wanting to make a fuss (907, 12.0%). Interviewees reported reluctance to contact the GP due to concerns about COVID-19 and fear of attending hospitals, and described putting their health concerns on hold.ConclusionsMany people avoided healthcare services despite experiencing potential cancer symptoms during the COVID-19 pandemic. Alongside current help-seeking campaigns, well-timed and appropriate nationally coordinated campaigns should signal that services are open safely for those with unusual or persistent symptoms.Trial registration numberISRCTN17782018.

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