title: Psychosocial concerns of young African American breast cancer survivors.
abstract: Thirty-three African American breast cancer survivors age 45 or younger participated in semistructured phone interviews about psychosocial concerns. Twenty-six percent believed treatment interfered with employment. One third wanted additional emotional support at and after diagnosis. One half felt cancer negatively influenced romantic relationships. Forty-five percent wanted children at diagnosis, but one half these women never received fertility information. One third reported sexual problems, but 73% never discussed sexuality with providers. Fifty-two percent lacked information about cancer-related sexual dysfunction. The strength and spirituality of African American women may facilitate cancer adjustment, but cultural taboos surrounding women's health issues may interfere with successful coping.
authors.affiliation: Department of Behavioral Science, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX 77230-1439, USA.
authors.forename: Pamela E
authors.initials: PE
authors.lastname: Lewis
authors.forename: Melissa
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sheng
authors.forename: Michelle Marion
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Rhodes
authors.forename: Karen Eubanks
authors.initials: KE
authors.lastname: Jackson
authors.forename: Leslie R
authors.initials: LR
authors.lastname: Schover
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001741:Black or African American / Q000523:psychology*; D001007:Anxiety / Q000209:etiology; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000523:psychology*; D004644:Emotions; D005260:Female; D005298:Fertility; D006801:Humans; D007398:Interpersonal Relations; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D008875:Middle Aged; D019529:Sexuality; D012944:Social Support; D017741:Survivors / Q000523:psychology*