Quality of life among women recently diagnosed with invasive breast cancer: the Pathways Study Hispanic Women's Breast and Cervical Cancer Knowledge, Attitudes, and Screening Behaviors Possible socioeconomic and ethnic disparities in quality of life in a cohort of breast cancer survivors Dispositional pessimism predicts illness-related disruption of social and recreational activities among breast cancer patients. Coping and distress among women under treatment for early stage breast cancer: comparing African Americans, Hispanics and non-Hispanic Whites. Cognitive behavioral stress management intervention improves quality of life in spanish monolingual hispanic men treated for localized prostate cancer: Results of a randomized controlled trial Racial and ethnic differences in depression: the roles of social support and meeting basic needs. Misconceptions about cancer among Latinos and Anglos.
Few studies have assessed quality of life ( QOL ) of women diagnosed with breast cancer within the first few weeks of their initial diagnosis . We describe QOL among 950 women recently diagnosed with invasive breast cancer . Starting in January 2006 , we invited women aged ≥21 years who were diagnosed with first primary invasive breast cancer within Kaiser Permanente Northern California ( KPNC ) to enroll in the Pathways Study , a prospect i ve study of breast cancer survivorship . QOL was measured using the Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy-Breast Cancer ( FACT-B )  , along with sociodemographic and social support information . Clinical characteristics were obtained from the KPNC cancer registry and electronic medical record . We used multivariable linear regression models to identify factors associated with QOL scores calculated from the FACT-B. The mean age ± SD of the sample was 59.6 years ( ±11.9 years ) , and the mean time ±SD from diagnosis until interview was 8.0 weeks ( ±3.2 weeks ) . Younger age at diagnosis was associated with lower scores in all QOL domains ( P < 0.01 ) , and later stage at diagnosis was associated with lower scores in all domains ( P < 0.05 ) except for social well-being . Higher levels of social support were associated with higher QOL except for physical well-being ( P < 0.05 ) . These associations were stronger within 2 months of breast cancer diagnosis . Quality of life as influenced by a diagnosis of breast cancer is an important factor in cancer survivorship . Age , stage at diagnosis , and social support are key factors in this important variable Purpose . This study examined breast and cervical cancer knowledge , attitudes , and screening behaviors among different Hispanic population s in the United States . Design . Data were collected from a r and om digit dial telephone survey of 8903 Hispanic adults from eight U.S. sites . Across sites , the average response rate was 83 % . Setting . Data were collected as part of the baseline assessment in a national Hispanic cancer control and prevention intervention study . Subjects . Analysis was restricted to 2239 Hispanic women age 40 and older who were self-identified as either Central American ( n = 174 ) , Cuban ( n = 279 ) , Mexican American ( n = 1550 ) , or Puerto Rican ( n = 236 ) . Measures . A bilingual survey instrument was used to solicit information on age , education , income , health insurance coverage , language use , U.S.-born status , knowledge of screening guidelines , attitudes toward cancer , and screening participation . Differences in knowledge and attitudes across Hispanic groups were assessed by either chi-square tests or analysis of variance . Logistic regression models assessed the influence of knowledge and attitudes on screening participation . Results . The level of knowledge of guidelines ranged from 58.3 % ( Mexican Americans ) to 71.8 % ( Cubans ) for mammography , and from 41.1 % ( Puerto Ricans ) to 55.6 % ( Cubans ) for Pap smear among the different Hispanic population s. Attitudes also varied , with Mexican Americans and Puerto Ricans having more negative or fatalistic views of cancer than Cuban or Central Americans . Knowledge was significantly related to age , education , income , language preference , and recent screening history . Overall , attitudes were not predictive of mammography and Pap smear behavior . Conclusions . Factors related to mammography and Pap smear screening vary among the different Hispanic population s. Limitations include the cross-sectional nature of the study , self-reported measures of screening , and the limited assessment of attitudes . The data and diversity of Hispanic groups reinforce the position that ethno-regional characteristics should be clarified and addressed in cancer screening promotion efforts . The practical relationships among knowledge , attitudes , and cancer screening are not altogether clear and require further research Background This paper describes the ethnic and socioeconomic correlates of functioning in a cohort of long-term nonrecurring breast cancer survivors . Methods Participants ( n = 804 ) in this study were women from the Health , Eating , Activity , and Lifestyle ( HEAL ) Study , a population -based , multicenter , multiethnic , prospect i ve study of women newly diagnosed with in situ or Stages I to IIIA breast cancer . Measurements occurred at three timepoints following diagnosis . Outcomes included st and ardized measures of functioning ( MOS SF-36 ) . Results Overall , these long-term survivors reported values on two physical function subscales of the SF-36 slightly lower than population norms . Black women reported statistically significantly lower physical functioning ( PF ) scores ( P = 0.01 ) , compared with White and Hispanic women , but higher mental health ( MH ) scores ( P < 0.01 ) compared with White and Hispanic women . In the final adjusted model , race was significantly related to PF , with Black participants and participants in the “ Other ” ethnic category reporting poorer functioning compared to the White referent group ( P < 0.01 , 0.05 ) . Not working outside the home , being retired or disabled and being unemployed ( on leave , looking for work ) were associated with poorer PF compared to currently working ( both P < 0.01 ) . Conclusion These data indicate that race/ethnicity influences psychosocial functioning in breast cancer survivors and can be used to identify need for targeted interventions to improve functioning The authors tested whether dispositional pessimism would predict withdrawal from social activities among women treated for breast cancer . In a cross-sectional sample 3 - 12 months postsurgery , disruption of social and recreational activities ( measured by the Sickness Impact Profile ) correlated with concurrently assessed pessimism . This association appeared mediated by emotional distress and fatigue . A longitudinal sample was studied shortly postsurgery and over the next year . Initial pessimism predicted disruption of social activities concurrently and prospect ively ( 3 , 6 , and 12 months later ) but predicted change in disruption from one time to the next only at final follow-up . These associations appeared partially mediated by distress . The authors conclude that pessimism places patients at risk for adverse outcomes in several respects rather than solely with regard to emotional distress This study examined coping and distress in African American ( n=8 ) , Hispanic ( n=53 ) , and non-Hispanic White ( n=70 ) women with early stage breast cancer . The participants were studied prospect ively across a year beginning at the time of surgery . African American women reported the lowest levels of distress ( particularly before surgery ) and depression symptoms . Hispanic women reported the highest levels of self-distraction as a coping response , non-Hispanic Whites reported the highest use of humor . Hispanics reported the highest levels of venting , African Americans reported the lowest levels . African American and Hispanic women reported more religious coping than non-Hispanic Whites . The data also provided evidence of a maladaptive spiral of distress and avoidant coping over time . Although some ethnic differences were identified , findings also point to a great many similarities across groups Background : The efficacy of a group-based psychosocial intervention with ethnic minority health population s may depend on consideration for cultural factors that can interact with group processes . Purpose : The current study explored the efficacy of a 10-week group-based cognitive-behavioral stress management ( CBSM ) intervention that was linguistically and culturally adapted for use with Hispanic monolingual men recently treated for localized prostate carcinoma ( PC ) . Methods : 71 Hispanic monolingual Spanish speakers were r and omly assigned to a 10-week CBSM intervention or a half-day stress management seminar ( control condition ) . Hierarchical regression was used to predict post-intervention QoL. Results : After controlling for relevant covariates , assignment to the CBSM condition significantly predicted greater physical well-being , emotional well-being , sexual functioning , and total well-being after the 10-week intervention period . Conclusions : Results suggest that participation in a culturally and linguistically adapted CBSM group intervention improved QoL in Hispanic monolingual men treated for localized PC The current work examined the depressive symptoms and prevalence of major depression among members of ethnic and racial minorities and White people from a large r and om sample . Minority group members experienced more depressive symptoms and a marginally higher prevalence of major depression than did White participants . These effects were mediated by participants ' problems meeting their basic needs . Specifically , minority group members reported more problems meeting their basic needs , and these problems were associated with an increased risk for depression and depressive symptoms . Minority group members also reported a higher quality of interpersonal functioning than White participants did , which appeared to suppress the relationship between ethnicity and depression . The implication s of the findings for treatment are discussed OBJECTIVE To collect information regarding knowledge about and attitudes toward cancer in a sample of adult health plan members , self-identified as Latino or Anglo . DESIGN Cross-sectional survey . SETTING Prepaid health plan . RESPONDENTS A r and om sample of 844 Latinos ( mean age , 50.5 years ) and 510 Anglos ( 51.8 years ) completed the interview . MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES AND RESULTS Latinos were significantly more likely than Anglos to think that  sugar substitutes ( 58 % vs 42 % ) , bruises from being hit ( 53 % vs 34 % ) , microwave ovens ( 47 % vs 23 % ) , eating pork ( 31 % vs 11 % ) , eating spicy foods  ( 15 % vs 8 % ) ,  breast-feeding  ( 14 % vs 6 % ) , and antibiotics ( 32 % vs 12 % ) could cause cancer ( P < .001 for each ) . Compared with Anglos , Latinos more often misidentified constant dizziness ( 39 % vs 25 % ) and arthralgias ( 35 % vs 20 % ) as being symptoms of cancer . A higher proportion of Latinos believed that having cancer is like getting a death sentence ( 46 % vs 26 % ) , that cancer is God 's punishment ( 7 % vs 2 % ) , that there is very little one can do to prevent getting cancer ( 26 % vs 18 % ) , that it is uncomfortable to touch someone with cancer ( 13 % vs 8 % ) , and that they would rather not know if they had incurable cancer ( 35 % vs 23 % ; P < .001 for each ) . Latino ethnicity was a significant predictor of these knowledge and attitude items in multivariate logistic regression models adjusted for sex , education , age , employment , marital status , county of residence , and self-perceived health status . CONCLUSIONS We conclude that misconceptions about cancer are more prevalent among Latinos than Anglos and that selected attitudes about cancer among Latinos fit a cultural theme of fatalismo . These data can enable development of culturally appropriate cancer control interventions for Latinos
Introduction The Latino population is the most rapidly growing ethnic minority in the United States and Latinas have higher rates of advanced breast cancer and more rigorous treatments than White women .
However , the literature lacks review s on quality of life among this population of breast cancer patients .