Women's experiences with antiestrogen therapy to treat breast cancer. 2012

Jane Flanagan, and Loren N Winters, and Karleen Habin, and Barbara Cashavelly
Connell School of Nursing, Boston College, Massachusetts, USA. flanagjg@bc.edu

OBJECTIVE To understand the experiences of women undergoing antiestrogen therapy (AET) to treat breast cancer. METHODS Content analysis of tape-recorded focus group interviews. METHODS Breast oncology center of a large medical center in the northeastern United States. METHODS Purposive sample of 21 women undergoing AET to treat breast cancer. METHODS A nonexperimental qualitative, descriptive design using open-ended interviews and content analysis to isolate themes. METHODS Women's experiences with AET. RESULTS Five themes were isolated and were focused on the overall experience of having breast cancer: symptoms related to AET, shared decision making, being strong for others, discovering new priorities, and recognizing vulnerability. CONCLUSIONS Oral therapies are an increasingly popular treatment option for various types of cancer, particularly in women with estrogen-sensitive breast cancer. Although this type of treatment has been efficacious in terms of disease-free and overall survival, women undergoing AET face many challenges related to treatment. Healthcare providers need to understand women's perceptions of AET and its effects as a first step in the process of developing interventions to improve care. CONCLUSIONS More research is needed to distinguish whether the presence of preexisting chronic illness, differences in type of AET, age, and ethnicity impact the overall experience of women on AET. Individual interviews may be necessary to fully explore the experience. Oncology nurses should implement surveillance care to explore the effects of AET on women with breast cancer.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D008875 Middle Aged An adult aged 45 - 64 years. Middle Age
D009859 Oncology Nursing A nursing specialty concerned with the care provided to cancer patients. It includes aspects of family functioning through education of both patient and family. Nursing, Oncologic,Oncologic Nursing,Cancer Nursing,Oncological Nursing,Nursing, Cancer,Nursing, Oncological,Nursing, Oncology
D010361 Patients Individuals participating in the health care system for the purpose of receiving therapeutic, diagnostic, or preventive procedures. Clients,Client,Patient
D001943 Breast Neoplasms Tumors or cancer of the human BREAST. Breast Cancer,Breast Tumors,Cancer of Breast,Breast Carcinoma,Cancer of the Breast,Human Mammary Carcinoma,Malignant Neoplasm of Breast,Malignant Tumor of Breast,Mammary Cancer,Mammary Carcinoma, Human,Mammary Neoplasm, Human,Mammary Neoplasms, Human,Neoplasms, Breast,Tumors, Breast,Breast Carcinomas,Breast Malignant Neoplasm,Breast Malignant Neoplasms,Breast Malignant Tumor,Breast Malignant Tumors,Breast Neoplasm,Breast Tumor,Cancer, Breast,Cancer, Mammary,Cancers, Mammary,Carcinoma, Breast,Carcinoma, Human Mammary,Carcinomas, Breast,Carcinomas, Human Mammary,Human Mammary Carcinomas,Human Mammary Neoplasm,Human Mammary Neoplasms,Mammary Cancers,Mammary Carcinomas, Human,Neoplasm, Breast,Neoplasm, Human Mammary,Neoplasms, Human Mammary,Tumor, Breast
D005260 Female Females
D006801 Humans Members of the species Homo sapiens. Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D000328 Adult A person having attained full growth or maturity. Adults are of 19 through 44 years of age. For a person between 19 and 24 years of age, YOUNG ADULT is available. Adults
D000368 Aged A person 65 years of age or older. For a person older than 79 years, AGED, 80 AND OVER is available. Elderly
D000970 Antineoplastic Agents Substances that inhibit or prevent the proliferation of NEOPLASMS. Anticancer Agent,Antineoplastic,Antineoplastic Agent,Antineoplastic Drug,Antitumor Agent,Antitumor Drug,Cancer Chemotherapy Agent,Cancer Chemotherapy Drug,Anticancer Agents,Antineoplastic Drugs,Antineoplastics,Antitumor Agents,Antitumor Drugs,Cancer Chemotherapy Agents,Cancer Chemotherapy Drugs,Chemotherapeutic Anticancer Agents,Chemotherapeutic Anticancer Drug,Agent, Anticancer,Agent, Antineoplastic,Agent, Antitumor,Agent, Cancer Chemotherapy,Agents, Anticancer,Agents, Antineoplastic,Agents, Antitumor,Agents, Cancer Chemotherapy,Agents, Chemotherapeutic Anticancer,Chemotherapy Agent, Cancer,Chemotherapy Agents, Cancer,Chemotherapy Drug, Cancer,Chemotherapy Drugs, Cancer,Drug, Antineoplastic,Drug, Antitumor,Drug, Cancer Chemotherapy,Drug, Chemotherapeutic Anticancer,Drugs, Antineoplastic,Drugs, Antitumor,Drugs, Cancer Chemotherapy
D001294 Attitude to Health Public attitudes toward health, disease, and the medical care system. Health Attitude,Attitude, Health,Attitudes, Health,Health Attitudes,Health, Attitude to

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