An Overview of the Unique Challenges Facing African-American Breast Cancer Survivors

Overview

Journal Support Care Cancer

Specialties Critical Care
Oncology

Date 2018 Nov 22

PMID 30460398

Citations 19

Authors

Marium Husain

Timiya S Nolan

Kevin Foy

Raquel Reinbolt

Cassandra Grenade

Maryam Lustberg

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Purpose: The existence of cancer disparities is well known. Focus on alleviating such disparities centers on diagnosis, treatment, and mortality. This review surveyed current knowledge of health disparities that exist in the acute survivorship period (immediately following diagnosis and treatment) and their contributors, particularly for African-American breast cancer survivors (AA-BCS).

Methods: Utilizing the ASCO four components of survivorship care, we explore disparities in surveillance and effects of cancer and therapies that AA-BCS face within the acute survivorship period (the years immediately following diagnosis). A literature review of PUBMED, Scopus, and Cochrane databases was conducted to identify articles related to AA-BCS acute survivorship. The search yielded 97 articles. Of the 97 articles, 38 articles met inclusion criteria.

Results: AA-BCS experience disparate survivorship care, which negatively impacts quality of life and health outcomes. Challenges exist in surveillance, interventions for late effects (e.g., quality-of-life outcomes, cardiotoxicity, and cognitive changes), preventing recurrence with promotion of healthy living, and coordinating care among the healthcare team.

Conclusions: This overview identified current knowledge on the challenges in survivorship among AA-BCS. Barriers to optimal survivorship care inhibit progress in eliminating breast cancer disparities. Research addressing best practices for survivorship care is needed for this population. Implementation of culturally tailored care may reduce breast cancer disparities among AA-BCS.

Citing Articles

Validating the Black Identity, Hair Product Use, and Breast Cancer Scale (BHBS) Among Black Breast Cancer Survivors.

Teteh-Brooks D, Ericson M, Bethea T, Dawkins-Moultin L, Sarkaria N, Bailey J Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2025; 22(2).

PMID: 40003400 PMC: 11855503. DOI: 10.3390/ijerph22020174.

Insights About Dyadic Cancer Survivorship Interventions for Black Women and Their Caregivers: A Rapid Qualitative Analysis of Collaborator Perspectives.

Thompson T, Lero C, Levitan J, Bradley C, James A, Heiden-Rootes K Cancer Control. 2024; 31:10732748241305583.

PMID: 39672808 PMC: 11645766. DOI: 10.1177/10732748241305583.

Exploring Quality of Life Experiences and Concerns of Black Breast Cancer Survivors: a Narrative Approach.

Burse N, Cuffee Y, Wray L, Chinchilli V, Lengerich E, Schmitz K J Cancer Educ. 2023; 39(1):96-102.

PMID: 37978102 PMC: 10842849. DOI: 10.1007/s13187-023-02381-x.

Structural Racism, Lifestyle Behaviors, and Obesity-related Cancers among Black and Hispanic/Latino Adults in the United States: A Narrative Review.

Pichardo M, Ferrucci L, Molina Y, Esserman D, Irwin M Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev. 2023; 32(11):1498-1507.

PMID: 37650844 PMC: 10872641. DOI: 10.1158/1055-9965.EPI-22-1147.

Franco-Rocha O, Lewis K, Longoria K, De La Torre Schutz A, Wright M, Kesler S J Cancer Res Clin Oncol. 2023; 149(13):12561-12587.

PMID: 37432455 DOI: 10.1007/s00432-023-05088-0.

References

Singal P, Li T, Kumar D, Danelisen I, Iliskovic N . Adriamycin-induced heart failure: mechanism and modulation. Mol Cell Biochem. 2000; 207(1-2):77-86. DOI: 10.1023/a:1007094214460. View

Beaulac S, McNair L, Scott T, LaMorte W, Kavanah M . Lymphedema and quality of life in survivors of early-stage breast cancer. Arch Surg. 2002; 137(11):1253-7. DOI: 10.1001/archsurg.137.11.1253. View

Betancourt J, Green A, Carrillo J, Ananeh-Firempong 2nd O . Defining cultural competence: a practical framework for addressing racial/ethnic disparities in health and health care. Public Health Rep. 2003; 118(4):293-302. PMC: 1497553. DOI: 10.1093/phr/118.4.293. View

Hasan S, Dinh K, Lombardo F, Kark J . Doxorubicin cardiotoxicity in African Americans. J Natl Med Assoc. 2004; 96(2):196-9. PMC: 2594938. View

Lopez E, Eng E, Randall-David E, Robinson N . Quality-of-life concerns of African American breast cancer survivors within rural North Carolina: blending the techniques of photovoice and grounded theory. Qual Health Res. 2004; 15(1):99-115. DOI: 10.1177/1049732304270766. View

Tammemagi C, Nerenz D, Neslund-Dudas C, Feldkamp C, Nathanson D . Comorbidity and survival disparities among black and white patients with breast cancer. JAMA. 2005; 294(14):1765-72. DOI: 10.1001/jama.294.14.1765. View

Schover L, Jenkins R, Sui D, Adams J, Marion M, Jackson K . Randomized trial of peer counseling on reproductive health in African American breast cancer survivors. J Clin Oncol. 2006; 24(10):1620-6. DOI: 10.1200/JCO.2005.04.7159. View

Thompson H, Littles M, Jacob S, Coker C . Posttreatment breast cancer surveillance and follow-up care experiences of breast cancer survivors of African descent: an exploratory qualitative study. Cancer Nurs. 2006; 29(6):478-87. DOI: 10.1097/00002820-200611000-00009. View

Kooken W, Haase J, Russell K . "I've been through something": poetic explorations of African American women's cancer survivorship. West J Nurs Res. 2007; 29(7):896-919. DOI: 10.1177/0193945907302968. View

10.

Kim S, Ferrante J, Won B, Hameed M . Barriers to adequate follow-up during adjuvant therapy may be important factors in the worse outcome for Black women after breast cancer treatment. World J Surg Oncol. 2008; 6:26. PMC: 2277417. DOI: 10.1186/1477-7819-6-26. View

11.

Argyriou A, Koltzenburg M, Polychronopoulos P, Papapetropoulos S, Kalofonos H . Peripheral nerve damage associated with administration of taxanes in patients with cancer. Crit Rev Oncol Hematol. 2008; 66(3):218-28. DOI: 10.1016/j.critrevonc.2008.01.008. View

12.

Polite B, Cirrincione C, Fleming G, Berry D, Seidman A, Muss H . Racial differences in clinical outcomes from metastatic breast cancer: a pooled analysis of CALGB 9342 and 9840--Cancer and Leukemia Group B. J Clin Oncol. 2008; 26(16):2659-65. PMC: 4830463. DOI: 10.1200/JCO.2007.13.9782. View

13.

Royak-Schaler R, Passmore S, Gadalla S, Hoy M, Zhan M, Tkaczuk K . Exploring patient-physician communication in breast cancer care for African American women following primary treatment. Oncol Nurs Forum. 2008; 35(5):836-43. DOI: 10.1188/08.ONF.836-843. View

14.

Russell K, Von Ah D, Giesler R, Storniolo A, Haase J . Quality of life of African American breast cancer survivors: how much do we know?. Cancer Nurs. 2008; 31(6):E36-45. DOI: 10.1097/01.NCC.0000339254.68324.d7. View

15.

Stolley M, Sharp L, Oh A, Schiffer L . A weight loss intervention for African American breast cancer survivors, 2006. Prev Chronic Dis. 2008; 6(1):A22. PMC: 2644600. View

16.

Peate M, Meiser B, Hickey M, Friedlander M . The fertility-related concerns, needs and preferences of younger women with breast cancer: a systematic review. Breast Cancer Res Treat. 2009; 116(2):215-23. DOI: 10.1007/s10549-009-0401-6. View

17.

Boykoff N, Moieni M, Subramanian S . Confronting chemobrain: an in-depth look at survivors' reports of impact on work, social networks, and health care response. J Cancer Surviv. 2009; 3(4):223-32. PMC: 2775113. DOI: 10.1007/s11764-009-0098-x. View

18.

Alderman A, Hawley S, Janz N, Mujahid M, Morrow M, Hamilton A . Racial and ethnic disparities in the use of postmastectomy breast reconstruction: results from a population- based study. J Clin Oncol. 2009; 27(32):5325-30. PMC: 2773218. DOI: 10.1200/JCO.2009.22.2455. View

19.

Kantsiper M, McDonald E, Geller G, Shockney L, Snyder C, Wolff A . Transitioning to breast cancer survivorship: perspectives of patients, cancer specialists, and primary care providers. J Gen Intern Med. 2009; 24 Suppl 2:S459-66. PMC: 2763147. DOI: 10.1007/s11606-009-1000-2. View

20.

Ann Burg M, Lopez E, Dailey A, Keller M, Prendergast B . The potential of survivorship care plans in primary care follow-up of minority breast cancer patients. J Gen Intern Med. 2009; 24 Suppl 2:S467-71. PMC: 2763149. DOI: 10.1007/s11606-009-1012-y. View