title: Transition to breast cancer survivorship: a longitudinal qualitative follow-up study of two-year survivors.
abstract: This article reports on a qualitative, longitudinal follow-up of a cohort of breast cancer survivors through which their pretreatment psychological adjustment thought processes and behaviors were compared with those 2 years following diagnosis. Analysis revealed five interrelated themes reflecting changing thought processes and behaviors over time. Quantitative measures of psychological adjustment at 2 years were consistent with the qualitative findings in some respects; however, the concepts measured by these tools were inconsistent with themes identified through qualitative analysis. Findings support a need to study ways to assess women's psychosocial needs and intervene to support adjustment among 2-year breast cancer survivors.
authors.affiliation: University at Buffalo, The State University of New York, School of Nursing, Buffalo, NY 14214, USA. rmlally@buffalo.edu
authors.forename: Robin M
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Lally
authors.forename: Meghan L
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Underhill
mesh_terms: D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000523:psychology* / Q000628:therapy; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D036301:Qualitative Research; D017741:Survivors / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D013997:Time Factors