Online Support Groups for Women with Metastatic Breast Cancer: A Feasibility Pilot Study

Background and Objective: Despite the increasing treatment options for patients with metastatic breast cancer (MBC), unmet needs remain common, especially in low and middle-income countries where resources are limited and MBC patients face many challenges. They often join support groups to cope with their unmet needs. Currently, many MBC patients connect with each other via online support group in view of the constant availability of support and rapid information exchange. The objective of this study is to determine the unmet needs of women with MBC from an online support group. Material and Methods: Messages in an online support group of twenty-two MBC patients over a period of three years from August 2016 till August 2019 were thematically analyzed. Results: Three themes were generated, (1) unmet information needs (2) unmet financial needs (3) unmet support needs. Women needed information on side effects of treatment, new treatment options and availability of clinical trials. Although Malaysia has universal health care coverage, access to treatment remains a major challenge. When treatment was not available in the public hospitals, or waiting lists were too long, women were forced to seek treatment in private hospitals, incurring financial catastrophe. Insufficient private insurance and inadequate social security payments force many women to consider stopping treatment. Women felt that they were not getting support from their clinicians in the public sector, who were quick to stop active treatment and advise palliation. On the other hand, clinicians in the private sector advise expensive treatment beyond the financial capability of the patients. Women with families also face the challenge of managing their family and household in addition to coping with their illness. Conclusions: There is a need for healthcare professionals, policy makers, and civil society to better address the needs of MBC patients through patient-centered, multidisciplinary and multi-organizational collaboration.

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Online support groups for women with breast cancer

10.1002/14651858.cd011652 ◽

2015 ◽

Author(s):

Eilis McCaughan ◽

Kader Parahoo ◽

Irene Hueter ◽

Laurel Northouse

Keyword(s):

Breast Cancer ◽

Support Groups ◽

Online Support ◽

Online Support Groups

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Sequential intra-arterial infusion of 90Y-resin microspheres and mitomycin C in chemo refractory liver metastatic breast cancer patients: a single centre pilot study

Radiology and Oncology ◽

10.2478/raon-2020-0002 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 54 (1) ◽

pp. 33-39

Author(s):

Brigitte Maximiliana Aarts ◽

Elisabeth Geneviève Klompenhouwer ◽

Raphaëla Carmen Dresen ◽

Christophe Michel Albert Louis Omer Deroose ◽

Regina Gien Hoa Beets-Tan ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Breast Cancer ◽

Metastatic Breast Cancer ◽

Pilot Study ◽

Mitomycin C ◽

Progressive Disease ◽

Metastatic Breast ◽

Response To Treatment ◽

Breast Cancer Patients ◽

Arterial Infusion ◽

Resin Microspheres

AbstractBackgroundThe aim of the study was to evaluate the safety and feasibility of intra-arterial mitomycin C (MMC) infusion after selective internal radiation therapy (SIRT) using Yttrium-90 (90Y) resin microspheres in liver metastatic breast cancer (LMBC) patients.Patients and methodsThe prospective pilot study included LMBC patients from 2012–2018. Patients first received infusion of 90Y resin microspheres, after 6–8 weeks response to treatment was assessed by MRI, 18F-FDG PET/CT and laboratory tests. After exclusion of progressive disease, MMC infusion was administrated 8 weeks later in different dose cohorts; A: 6 mg in 1 cycle, B: 12 mg in 2 cycles, C: 24 mg in 2 cycles and D: maximum of 72 mg in 6 cycles. In cohort D the response was evaluated after every 2 cycles and continued after exclusion of progressive disease. Adverse events (AE) were reported according to CTCAE version 5.0.ResultsSixteen patients received 90Y treatment. Four patients were excluded for MMC infusion, because of extra hepatic disease progression (n = 3) and clinical and biochemical instability (n = 1). That resulted in the following number of patient per cohort; A: 2, B: 1, C: 3 and D: 6. In 4 of the 12 patients (all cohort D) the maximum dose of MMC was adjusted due biochemical toxicities (n = 2) and progressive disease (n = 2). One grade 3 AE occurred after 90Y treatment consisting of a gastrointestinal ulcer whereby prolonged hospitalization was needed.ConclusionsSequential treatment of intra-arterial infusion of MMC after 90Y SIRT was feasible in 75% of the patients when MMC was administrated in different escalating dose cohorts. However, caution is needed to prevent reflux after 90Y SIRT in LMBC patients.

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