Exploring breast cancer diagnosis and treatment experience among a sample of South African women who access primary health care

2019 ◽  
Vol 50 (2) ◽  
pp. 195-206
Author(s):  
Bronwynè Coetzee ◽  
Rizwana Roomaney ◽  
Paula Smith ◽  
Jo Daniels
Keyword(s):  
Breast Cancer ◽  
Health Care ◽  
Primary Health Care ◽  
South African ◽  
Cancer Diagnosis ◽  
Breast Cancer Diagnosis ◽  
Diagnosis And Treatment ◽  
African Women ◽  
Primary Health ◽  
South African Women

Despite the known impact of a cancer diagnosis and related treatments on quality of life, and the complexity of patient journeys in low-resource settings, there has been little published research into the relevant issues faced by South African women living with breast cancer. In this study, we aimed to understand the experiences of breast cancer diagnosis and treatment among a sample of South African women who access primary health care. A convenience sample of 12 women between the ages of 48 and 66 years attending a primary health care facility took part in our study. Women undergoing breast cancer treatment were invited to take part in face-to-face interviews. The interviews were semi-structured and guided by an interview schedule. Interviews were analysed thematically using ATLAS.ti v 8 computer software. We identified three important themes that explained how women experience diagnosis and treatment, namely, (1) reactions to the diagnosis experience, (2) the importance of faith, and (3) the value in having a sense of agency. Women’s initial reaction to their cancer diagnosis was one of shock and disbelief. Despite these reactions, faith and agency played an important role in how women in this study made sense of their illness experience and how they coped. Our findings demonstrate that women’s experiences of breast cancer diagnosis and treatment were accompanied by some psychological distress for which they need support. Furthermore, supporting women to make positive choices about coping and valuing the role of religion when appropriate should form part of any therapeutic engagement, medical or otherwise.

HER2 targeting as a two-sided strategy for breast cancer diagnosis and treatment: Outlook and recent implications in nanomedical approaches

2010 ◽  
Vol 62 (2) ◽  
pp. 150-165 ◽  
Author(s):  
Miriam Colombo ◽  
Fabio Corsi ◽  
Diego Foschi ◽  
Elisa Mazzantini ◽  
Serena Mazzucchelli ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Breast Cancer ◽  
Cancer Diagnosis ◽  
Breast Cancer Diagnosis ◽  
Diagnosis And Treatment

Perceptions of control, physical exercise, and psychological adjustment to breast cancer in South African women

1997 ◽  
Vol 19 (1) ◽  
pp. 51-60 ◽  
Author(s):  
Barbara A. Bremer ◽  
Cathleen T. Moore ◽  
Barbara M. Bourbon ◽  
Dawn R. Hess ◽  
Kristin L. Bremer
Keyword(s):  
Breast Cancer ◽  
Physical Exercise ◽  
South African ◽  
Psychological Adjustment ◽  
African Women ◽  
South African Women

scholarly journals Health system experiences of breast cancer survivors in urban South Africa

2020 ◽  
Vol 16 ◽  
pp. 174550652094941
Author(s):  
Madeleine Lambert ◽  
Emily Mendenhall ◽  
Andrew Wooyoung Kim ◽  
Herbert Cubasch ◽  
Maureen Joffe ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Breast Cancer ◽  
South Africa ◽  
Black Women ◽  
Health System ◽  
South African ◽  
Breast Cancer Survivors ◽  
Radiation Treatment ◽  
African Women ◽  
Total Mastectomy ◽  
South African Women

Background: Breast cancer is the most common cancer globally and among South African women. Women from socioeconomically disadvantaged South African communities more often present later and receive total mastectomy compared to those from more affluent communities who have more breast conserving surgery (which is less invasive but requires mandatory radiation treatment post-operatively). Standard chemotherapy and total mastectomy treatments are known to cause traumatizing side effects and emotional suffering among South African women; moreover, many women face limited communication with physicians and psychological support. Objective: This article investigates the experiences of women seeking breast cancer treatment at the largest public hospital in South Africa. Methods We interviewed 50 Black women enrolled in the South African Breast Cancer Study to learn more about their health system experiences with detection, diagnosis, treatment, and follow-up care for breast cancer. Each interview was between 2–3 hours, addressing perceptions, experiences, and concerns associated with breast cancer and comorbidities such as HIV and hypertension. Results: We found most women feared diagnosis, in part, because of the experience of chemotherapy and physical mutilation related to mastectomy. The importance of social support from family, religion, and clinical staff was fundamental for women coping with their condition and adhering to treatment and medication. Conclusions: These findings exemplify how interventions might promote early detection of breast cancer and better adherence to treatment. Addressing community perceptions of breast cancer, patient needs and desires for treatment, structural barriers to intensive therapies, and the burden of invasive treatments are imperative next steps for delivering better breast cancer care in Soweto and other resource-constrained settings.

Influence of birthplace on breast cancer diagnosis and treatment for Hispanic women

2009 ◽  
Vol 121 (3) ◽  
pp. 743-751 ◽  
Author(s):  
Elena M. Kouri ◽  
Yulei He ◽  
Eric P. Winer ◽  
Nancy L. Keating
Keyword(s):  
Breast Cancer ◽  
Cancer Diagnosis ◽  
Hispanic Women ◽  
Breast Cancer Diagnosis ◽  
Diagnosis And Treatment

scholarly journals Adaptation of the Rapid Estimate of Adult Litera cy in Medicine Revised (REALM -R) to the South African context: Part 1

2010 ◽  
Vol 15 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Zelda Wasserman ◽  
Susanna C.D. Wright ◽  
Todd Mavis Maja
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Primary Health Care ◽  
South African ◽  
Care Setting ◽  
Health Care Setting ◽  
South African Context ◽  
The South ◽  
Primary Health Care Setting ◽  
Primary Health ◽  
African Context

Literacy levels are increasingly important in health care because professional nurses and other health care professionals often use written health education materials as a major component in patient education. In South Africa, no current instrument is available to assess the literacy levels of patients in the primary health care setting, though several instruments have been developed and validated internationally. The purpose of this paper was to adapt and validate the Rapid Estimate of Adult Literacy in Medicine Revised (REALM-R) to the South African context. The REALM-R is a short instrument that is designed to rapidly screen clients in the primary health care setting for low health literacy. A modified Delphi-technique was used to measure the judgement of a group of experts for the purpose of making a decision. Eight experts in the field of Nursing Science were selected purposively to obtain the most reliable consensus. Data was collected by means of a selfreport whereby participants responded to a series of questions posed by the researcher. Descriptive statistics was used for analysing data. The REALM-R was adapted to the South African context to ensure that the literacy level of South African clients is measured with an appropriate instrument.OpsommingGeletterdheidsvlakke word toenemend belangrik in gesondheidsorg aangesien geregistreerde verpleegkundiges en ander gesondheidswerkers dikwels geskrewe gesondheidopvoedkundige materiaal gebruik. Op die oomblik in Suid-Afrika is daar geen geletterdheidsvlaksinstrument beskikbaar om pasiënte in primêre gesondheidsorg se geletterdheid te toets nie. Daar bestaan wel gevalideerde internasionale instrumente. Die doel van die studie was om die REALM-R, ‘n internasionaal gevalideerde mediese geletterdheidsinstrument, aan te pas en te valideer om in die Suid-Afrikaanse konteks gebruik te kan word. Die REALM-R is ‘n kort geletterdheidsinstrument wat ontwikkel was om primêre sorg pasiênte wat moontlik lae geletterdheidsvaardigheid het, te kansif. ‘n Aangepasde Delphi-tegniek is gebruik om die oordeel van ‘n groep kundiges in te win. Agt kundiges in verpleegwetenskappe is doelgerig gekies ten einde ‘n betroubare ooreenkoms te verkry.Data is deur middel van self-raportering ingewin deurdat die deelnemers op vrae, gestel deur die navorser, geantwoord het. Beskrywende statistiek is gebruik om die data te ontleed. Die REALM-R is aangepas vir die Suid-Afrikaanse konteks ten einde ‘n geskikte instrument beskikbaar te stel om die geletterdheidsvaardigheid van primêre sorg pasiente vinnig en akkuraat te kan meet.

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