The transitional experience of women with newly diagnosed breast cancer

Abstract

The aim of the study was to provide insights into the transitional experience of women newly diagnosed with breast cancer progressing to their primary treatment. The psychosocial impact of patients in the recovery phase after breast cancer treatment has been investigated in recent years, however, little is known about the transition experience and psychosocial needs of Danish breast cancer patients during the phase of transition from diagnosis to treatment. This study employed a qualitative descriptive design with data collection including 12 semi-structured interviews with women undergoing radiation-or chemotherapy treatment. The transcribed interviews were analysed which identified five main themes; 1) Uncertainty, 2) Sense of powerlessness, 3) Sustaining normality, 4) Worrying about the future, 5) Fortunate only having radiotherapy. Understanding care needs of women in transition, from diagnosis to treatment, and how it impacts on their lives, is essential to enable health professionals to tailor individualized care. Early support is critical to ensure that women understand step-by-step what is involved in the treatment and care and thereby to assist them towards a positive psychosocial trajectory.

Unmet needs among Danish women with breast cancer in the transition from diagnosis into the early treatment phase

“…[44] Besides, patients in transition tend to be more vulnerable, [44] hence the process of being treated for breast cancer concerns related to identity as findings from the first part of our study, there was an immense psychological impact reported by the women related to them experiencing great sense of uncertainty, sense of powerlessness, difficulties in sustaining normality and also worried about their future. [5] In this qualitative study the women managed their transition by trying to establish normality in their everyday life. These findings were also aligned in the in current study as employment was a significant contributor in the process towards establishing normality in their everyday life.…”

“…These results are presented else-where. [5] In this paper, only the second part, a quantitative longitudinal part of the study is presented. This part investigates the supportive needs of people diagnosed with breast cancer in the early treatment phase of their condition.…”

“…All items and scales in the final questionnaire were selected carefully after reviewing the literature in the area of breast cancer survivorship and the results from the first part of our study on transitional experiences. [5,16] 2.2 Participants Over a six-month period, 123 Danish women diagnosed with breast cancer, treated with mastectomy or lumpectomy, were assessed for eligibility during their primary treatment period. The inclusion criteria were: age between 25 and 70 years old, able to read and understand the information involved in the research, no previous cancer diagnosis and newly diagnosed with breast cancer.…”

“…To become a breast cancer survivor with ongoing follow-up consultations, can add stress and may be potentially a disempowering experience and require the women to go through a transition from perceiving herself as a healthy woman to living with a chronic condition. [5] It has physical, psychological and social implications for the women, who receive a cancer diagnosis and It also add restrictions their daily life such as disruption in social activities and decrease their capacity to plan. [6,7] The women might also be further restricted by the physical symptoms, such as fatigue, nausea, vomiting, weight gain, hair loss, that the treatment often extracts.…”

“…[12] Previous research has investigated the transitional experience and health care needs in people undergoing chemotherapy. [5,13] Nevertheless, the current study seeks to identify unmet supportive care needs in the early treatment phase of women treated for breast cancer. Little is known about the unmet physical, physiological and social needs in the very early treatment phase a few weeks after diagnosis.…”