title: Breast cancer survivorship and South Asian women: understanding about the follow-up care plan and perspectives and preferences for information post treatment.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  As more treatment options become available and supportive care improves, a larger number of people will survive after treatment for breast cancer. In the present study, we explored the experiences and concerns of female South Asian (sa) breast cancer survivors (bcss) from various age groups after treatment to determine their understanding of follow-up care and to better understand their preferences for a survivorship care plan (scp).
  
  
  METHODS
  Patients were identified by name recognition from BC Cancer Agency records for sa patients who were 3-60 months post treatment, had no evidence of recurrence, and had been discharged from the cancer centre to follow-up. Three focus groups and eleven face-to-face semistructured interviews were audio-recorded, transcribed verbatim, cross-checked for accuracy, and analyzed using thematic and content analysis. Participants were asked about their survivorship experiences and their preferences for the content and format of a scp.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Fatigue, cognitive changes, fear of recurrence, and depression were the most universal effects after treatment. "Quiet acceptance" was the major theme unique to sa women, with a unique cross-influence between faith and acceptance. Emphasis on a generalized scp with individualized content echoed the wide variation in breast cancer impacts for sa women. Younger women preferred information on depression and peer support.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  For sa bcss, many of the psychological and physical impacts of breast cancer diagnosis and treatment may be experienced in common with bcss of other ethnic backgrounds, but the present study also suggests the presence of unique cultural nuances such as spiritual and language-specific support resource needs. The results provide direction for designing key content and format of scps, and information about elements of care that can be customized to individual patient needs.
authors.affiliation: School of Nursing, California State University-Long Beach, Long Beach, CA, U.S.A.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Singh-Carlson
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Wong
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Martin
authors.forename: S K A
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: Nguyen
keywords: South Asian women; breast cancer survivors; life stage; psychosocial and physical functioning; social and cultural aspects of cancer; survivorship care
references.citation: Int J Gynecol Cancer. 2005 Mar-Apr;15(2):203-8
references.pmid: 15823100
references.citation: J Immigr Health. 2003 Oct;5(4):143-52
references.pmid: 14574065
references.citation: Can Oncol Nurs J. 2009 Summer;19(2):55-9
references.pmid: 19757762
references.citation: J Cancer Surviv. 2011 Dec;5(4):337-44
references.pmid: 21643836
references.citation: Psychooncology. 2004 Jun;13(6):429-33
references.pmid: 15188448
references.citation: Cancer J. 2008 Nov-Dec;14(6):410-3
references.pmid: 19060606
references.citation: CA Cancer J Clin. 2012 Mar-Apr;62(2):101-17
references.pmid: 22241452
references.citation: Soc Sci Med. 1998 Dec;47(12):2075-85
references.pmid: 10075248
references.citation: J Cancer Surviv. 2012 Mar;6(1):11-9
references.pmid: 22160661
references.citation: J Cancer Surviv. 2009 Dec;3(4):212-22
references.pmid: 19760151
references.citation: Acta Oncol. 2011 Feb;50(2):223-32
references.pmid: 21091085
references.citation: Cancer. 2006 Nov 15;107(10):2496-503
references.pmid: 17048250
references.citation: J Natl Cancer Inst. 2004 Sep 1;96(17):1322-30
references.pmid: 15339970
references.citation: Eur J Cancer. 2004 Mar;40(5):673-80
references.pmid: 15010067
references.citation: Holist Nurs Pract. 2006 May-Jun;20(3):118-21
references.pmid: 16672811
references.citation: Can Oncol Nurs J. 2009 Fall;19(3):136, 138
references.pmid: 20101943
references.citation: Clin J Oncol Nurs. 2008 Jun;12(3):479-87
references.pmid: 18515246
references.citation: Cancer. 2011 Aug;117(15 Suppl):3575-84
references.pmid: 21780092
references.citation: Psychooncology. 2013 Jan;22(1):125-32
references.pmid: 21956765
references.citation: Curr Oncol. 2011 Oct;18(5):e218-26
references.pmid: 21980253
references.citation: Can Oncol Nurs J. 2010 Fall;20(4):188-98
references.pmid: 21171542
references.citation: J Clin Oncol. 2008 Feb 10;26(5):759-67
references.pmid: 18258984
references.citation: West J Nurs Res. 2001 Jun;23(4):376-93
references.pmid: 11383401
references.citation: Cancer Nurs. 2007 Jul-Aug;30(4):E36-45
references.pmid: 17666972
references.citation: West J Nurs Res. 2003 Nov;25(7):762-80
references.pmid: 14596178
references.citation: Oncol Nurs Forum. 2002 Jun;29(5):789-801
references.pmid: 12058154
references.citation: Psychooncology. 2004 Jun;13(6):408-28
references.pmid: 15188447
references.citation: Int J Nurs Stud. 2008 Feb;45(2):266-76
references.pmid: 17049350
references.citation: Curr Oncol. 2011 Dec;18(6):e265-81
references.pmid: 22184494
references.citation: J Gen Intern Med. 2009 Nov;24 Suppl 2:S459-66
references.pmid: 19838851
references.citation: J Gen Intern Med. 2009 Nov;24 Suppl 2:S467-71
references.pmid: 19838852
references.citation: Med Oncol. 2010 Mar;27(1):108-13
references.pmid: 19225913
references.citation: J Clin Oncol. 2011 Dec 20;29(36):4755-62
references.pmid: 22042959
references.citation: Cancer. 2008 Sep 1;113(5):1058-67
references.pmid: 18618494
references.citation: Breast. 2011 Jun;20(3):271-7
references.pmid: 21236671
references.citation: J Clin Oncol. 2006 Nov 10;24(32):5138-41
references.pmid: 17093276
references.citation: Am J Psychiatry. 1996 Aug;153(8):1043-9
references.pmid: 8678173
references.citation: Breast Cancer Res Treat. 2005 Aug;92(3):217-22
references.pmid: 16155792