title: Cultural and linguistic isolation: the breast cancer experience of Chinese-Australian women - a qualitative study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Although Chinese-Australian women are at higher risk of developing breast cancer after migration to Australia, information on their experience is limited. This paper explores Chinese-Australian women's perceptions of the meaning and experience of a breast cancer diagnosis, treatment and coping mechanism.
  
  
  METHODS
  Three focus groups were conducted with 23 Chinese-Australian women diagnosed with breast cancer in their native language (Cantonese or Mandarin). Following transcription and translation, interview data was analysed by content analysis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Culturally specific values, beliefs and language barriers played a significant role in shaping the women's breast cancer experiences and their response to the diagnosis. Of note these women found the experience isolating and distressing, factors that were compounded by the lack of culturally sensitive resources and information.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In providing information for Chinese-Australian women with breast cancer, culture, language and migration experience need to be taken into account.
authors.affiliation: Cancer Nursing Research Unit, Sydney Nursing School, University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia.
authors.forename: Cannas
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Kwok
authors.forename: Kathryn
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: White
mesh_terms: D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D044466:Asian People / Q000523:psychology; D001294:Attitude to Health; D001315:Australia; D001828:Body Image; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000208:ethnology* / Q000451:nursing / Q000523:psychology; D002681:China / Q000208:ethnology; D003144:Communication Barriers; D005260:Female; D017144:Focus Groups; D006723:Hong Kong / Q000208:ethnology; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D011369:Professional-Patient Relations; D012934:Social Isolation; D012945:Social Values; D017741:Survivors / Q000523:psychology