title: Strategies African-American Cancer Survivors Use to Overcome Fears and Fatalistic Attitudes.
abstract: This qualitative study explored strategies African-American cancer survivors use to overcome their fears and fatalistic attitudes toward cancer at the point of diagnosis through completion of treatment. Thirty-one African-American cancer survivors who had completed or nearly completed treatment were recruited through criterion purposeful sampling. In-depth, open-ended interviews were used to collect data. The data were analyzed using thematic analysis. Of the 31 survivors interviewed, 26 reported being fearful of cancer and believed that cancer would result in death. These cancer survivors were particularly fearful of having a cancer had spread, of being isolated, and performing less effectively at work. Strategies used to overcome these fears included increasing their own awareness about cancer, using positive self-talk, and avoiding negative people. The findings suggest that past experiences continue to influence fears and fatalistic perspectives about cancer and that educational resources to inform the public about cancer may be ignored until there is a confirmed diagnosis of cancer. Televised news broadcasts of high-profile personalities who had died from cancer were also anxiety provoking, particularly if the cancer survivor died of a recurrence from cancer. Prevalent sources of information and support for these survivors were family members or close friends they trusted with personal information, perceived as strong, or experienced in the care of other cancer survivors.
authors.affiliation: Department of Community-Public Health, School of Nursing, Johns Hopkins University, 525 N. Wolfe Street, Baltimore, MD, 21205, USA. jhamil32@jh.edu.
authors.forename: Jill B
authors.initials: JB
authors.lastname: Hamilton
authors.affiliation: School of Nursing, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Carrington Hall, CB #7460, Chapel Hill, NC, 27599, USA.
authors.forename: Nakia C
authors.initials: NC
authors.lastname: Best
authors.affiliation: School of Nursing, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Carrington Hall, CB #7460, Chapel Hill, NC, 27599, USA.
authors.forename: Kayoll V
authors.initials: KV
authors.lastname: Galbraith
authors.affiliation: Triangle Chapter, Sisters Network, Inc., Durham, NC, 27707, USA.
authors.forename: Valarie C
authors.initials: VC
authors.lastname: Worthy
authors.affiliation: Center for Nursing Science and Clinical Inquiry, Womack Army Medical Center, U.S. Army, 2817 Reilly Road, Fort Bragg, NC, USA.
authors.forename: L T C Angelo D
authors.initials: LT
authors.lastname: Moore
mesh_terms: D001741:Black or African American / Q000523:psychology*; D001294:Attitude to Health; D005239:Fear; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006301:Health Services Needs and Demand; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000208:ethnology* / Q000523:psychology; D036301:Qualitative Research; D011788:Quality of Life; D017741:Survivors / Q000523:psychology*
keywords: African-American; Cancer; Fatalistic attitudes; Fears; Social support; Survivorship