African American Women: Surviving Breast Cancer Mortality against the Highest Odds
Among the country’s 25 largest cities, the breast cancer mortality disparity is highest in Memphis, Tennessee, where African American women are twice as likely to die from breast cancer as White women. This qualitative study of African-American breast cancer survivors explores experiences during and...
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doaj-7aa4ea809c5846a0b4d5d8a0cd2ab45a2020-11-24T22:36:28ZengMDPI AGInternational Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health1660-46012015-12-01131610.3390/ijerph13010006ijerph13010006African American Women: Surviving Breast Cancer Mortality against the Highest OddsShelley White-Means0Muriel Rice1Jill Dapremont2Barbara Davis3Judy Martin4Department of Clinical Pharmacy, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, 881 Madison, Suite 202, Memphis, TN 38163, USAMustard Seed, Inc., 653 Mississippi Blvd, Memphis, TN 38126, USALoewenberg School of Nursing, University of Memphis, 3567 Community Health Building, Memphis, TN 38152, USADepartment of Management, Fogelman College of Business and Economics, University of Memphis, Memphis, TN 38152, USAShelby County Health Department, Memphis, TN 38105, USAAmong the country’s 25 largest cities, the breast cancer mortality disparity is highest in Memphis, Tennessee, where African American women are twice as likely to die from breast cancer as White women. This qualitative study of African-American breast cancer survivors explores experiences during and post treatment that contributed to their beating the high odds of mortality. Using a semi-structured interview guide, a focus group session was held in 2012 with 10 breast cancer survivors. Thematic analysis and a deductive a priori template of codes were used to analyze the data. Five main themes were identified: family history, breast/body awareness and preparedness to manage a breast cancer event, diagnosis experience and reaction to the diagnosis, family reactions, and impact on life. Prayer and family support were central to coping, and survivors voiced a cultural acceptance of racial disparities in health outcomes. They reported lack of provider sensitivity regarding pain, financial difficulties, negative responses from family/friends, and resiliency strategies for coping with physical and mental limitations. Our research suggested that a patient-centered approach of demystifying breast cancer (both in patient-provider communication and in community settings) would impact how women cope with breast cancer and respond to information about its diagnosis.http://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/13/1/6breast cancerAfrican American womenhealth disparitiessurvivorshippatient/provider communicationfocus group |
collection |
DOAJ |
language |
English |
format |
Article |
sources |
DOAJ |
author |
Shelley White-Means Muriel Rice Jill Dapremont Barbara Davis Judy Martin |
spellingShingle |
Shelley White-Means Muriel Rice Jill Dapremont Barbara Davis Judy Martin African American Women: Surviving Breast Cancer Mortality against the Highest Odds International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health breast cancer African American women health disparities survivorship patient/provider communication focus group |
author_facet |
Shelley White-Means Muriel Rice Jill Dapremont Barbara Davis Judy Martin |
author_sort |
Shelley White-Means |
title |
African American Women: Surviving Breast Cancer Mortality against the Highest Odds |
title_short |
African American Women: Surviving Breast Cancer Mortality against the Highest Odds |
title_full |
African American Women: Surviving Breast Cancer Mortality against the Highest Odds |
title_fullStr |
African American Women: Surviving Breast Cancer Mortality against the Highest Odds |
title_full_unstemmed |
African American Women: Surviving Breast Cancer Mortality against the Highest Odds |
title_sort |
african american women: surviving breast cancer mortality against the highest odds |
publisher |
MDPI AG |
series |
International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health |
issn |
1660-4601 |
publishDate |
2015-12-01 |
description |
Among the country’s 25 largest cities, the breast cancer mortality disparity is highest in Memphis, Tennessee, where African American women are twice as likely to die from breast cancer as White women. This qualitative study of African-American breast cancer survivors explores experiences during and post treatment that contributed to their beating the high odds of mortality. Using a semi-structured interview guide, a focus group session was held in 2012 with 10 breast cancer survivors. Thematic analysis and a deductive a priori template of codes were used to analyze the data. Five main themes were identified: family history, breast/body awareness and preparedness to manage a breast cancer event, diagnosis experience and reaction to the diagnosis, family reactions, and impact on life. Prayer and family support were central to coping, and survivors voiced a cultural acceptance of racial disparities in health outcomes. They reported lack of provider sensitivity regarding pain, financial difficulties, negative responses from family/friends, and resiliency strategies for coping with physical and mental limitations. Our research suggested that a patient-centered approach of demystifying breast cancer (both in patient-provider communication and in community settings) would impact how women cope with breast cancer and respond to information about its diagnosis. |
topic |
breast cancer African American women health disparities survivorship patient/provider communication focus group |
url |
http://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/13/1/6 |
work_keys_str_mv |
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