title: Surgical treatment differences among Latina and African American breast cancer survivors.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To describe breast cancer treatment choices from the perspectives of Latina and African American breast cancer survivors.
  
  
  METHODS
  An interdisciplinary team conducted a mixed-methods study of women treated for stages I-IV breast cancer.
  
  
  METHODS
  Participants' homes in metropolitan areas.
  
  
  METHODS
  39 participants in three groups: monolingual Spanish-speaking Latinas (n = 15), English-speaking Latinas (n = 15), and African American women (n = 9).
  
  
  METHODS
  Individual participant interviews were conducted by racially and linguistically matched nurse researchers, and sociodemographic data were collected. Content and matrix analysis methods were used.
  
  
  METHODS
  Perceptions of breast cancer care.
  
  
  RESULTS
  High rates of mastectomy were noted for early-stage treatment (stage I or II). Among the participants diagnosed with early-stage breast cancer, the majority of English-speaking Latinas (n = 9) and African American women (n = 4) received a mastectomy. However, the majority of the Spanish-speaking Latina group (n = 5) received breast-conserving surgery. Four factors influenced the choice of mastectomy over lumpectomy across the three groups: clinical indicators, fear of recurrence, avoidance of adjuvant side effects, and perceived favorable survival outcomes. Spanish-speaking Latinas were more likely to rely on physician treatment recommendations, and the other two groups used a shared decision-making style.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Additional study is needed to understand how women select and integrate treatment information with the recommendations they receive from healthcare providers. Among the Spanish-speaking Latina group, limited English proficiency, the use of translators in explaining treatment options, and a lack of available educational materials in Spanish are factors that influenced reliance on physician recommendations.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Oncology nurses were notably absent in supporting the women's treatment decision making. Advanced practice oncology nurses, coupled with language-appropriate educational resources, may provide essential guidance in clarifying surgical treatment choices for breast cancer among culturally and linguistically diverse populations.
authors: College of Nursing, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, USA.
authors: Maureen
authors: M
authors: Campesino
authors: Mary
authors: M
authors: Koithan
authors: Ester
authors: E
authors: Ruiz
authors: Johanna Uriri
authors: JU
authors: Glover
authors: Gloria
authors: G
authors: Juarez
authors: Myunghan
authors: M
authors: Choi
authors: Robert S
authors: RS
authors: Krouse
mesh_terms: D001741:Black or African American / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000208:ethnology* / Q000451:nursing / Q000532:radiotherapy / Q000601:surgery*; D002755:Choice Behavior; D003144:Communication Barriers; D005260:Female; D006297:Health Services Accessibility / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006630:Hispanic or Latino / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D007348:Insurance, Health / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D008408:Mastectomy / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D015412:Mastectomy, Segmental / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D008875:Middle Aged; D015404:Nursing Methodology Research; D009859:Oncology Nursing; D011878:Radiotherapy / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D017741:Survivors / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data