title: Social Support for Chamorro Breast Cancer Survivors on Guam.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The purpose of this study was to assess the types of social support used by Chamorro (indigenous) breast cancer survivors on Guam.
  
  
  METHODS
  We assessed social support use among 25 self-reported Chamorro women with a diagnosis of breast cancer through interviews and construction of genograms and ecomaps -pictorial displays of the women's family relationships, medical history, and their social networks.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The mean age of the participants was 54.5 years. The average number of years since the diagnosis of breast cancer was 7.8 years. Respondents indicated that the nuclear family was the most important form of social support (34.2%). Indeed, nuclear family and other types of informal systems were the most common type of social support used by the women (60.2%). Formal support services, clubs, and organizations were reported by 17.9% of participants while spiritual and/or religious resources were reported by 21.9% of them.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These Chamorro breast cancer survivors depended largely on family for social support. Support from family, although informal, should be recognized as a pivotal factor in recovery and survivorship. Future directions could incorporate formal and informal mechanisms to utilize this natural support resource.
authors: Family Pacific.
authors: Lilli Ann
authors: LA
authors: Perez
authors: Family Pacific.
authors: Lisalinda
authors: L
authors: Natividad
authors: Health Policy Research Institute.
authors: William
authors: W
authors: Chung
authors: Cancer Research Center of Guam, University of Guam.
authors: Robert L
authors: RL
authors: Haddock
authors: Health Policy Research Institute ; University of California, Irvine, Department of Medicine and Chao Family Comprehensive Cancer Center.
authors: Lari
authors: L
authors: Wenzel
authors: Health Policy Research Institute ; University of California, Irvine, Department of Medicine and Chao Family Comprehensive Cancer Center.
authors: F Allan
authors: FA
authors: Hubbell
keywords: breast cancer; social support; survivorship