title: "I might not have cancer if you didn't mention it": a qualitative study on information needed by culturally diverse cancer survivors.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Immigrants from culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) backgrounds diagnosed with cancer face multiple challenges with health systems foreign to them. There is scarce understanding about their needs following cancer treatment in the survivorship phase. Unmet needs were examined in immigrant Chinese and Greek cancer survivors in order to assist development of relevant and useful information resources for these CALD groups.
  
  
  METHODS
  Qualitative descriptive design was used. Adult cancer survivors, whose native language was Mandarin, Cantonese or Greek, were recruited through ethnic cancer support groups and cancer specialists in two Australian cities. Six focus groups were conducted, two in each native language group. Recorded responses were transcribed, translated into English, and thematically analysed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Thirty-nine CALD cancer survivors participated from Greek (11), Cantonese (14) and Mandarin (14) backgrounds. Thematic findings included as follows: ongoing cancer-related stressors, cancer misunderstandings, coping strategies, 'survivor' seldom reflects self-appraisal, and additional CALD survivorship information needed. Immigrant cancer survivors may prefer 'recovery' to 'survivorship' descriptors and need information similar to Caucasian cancer survivors alongside as follows: resources for navigating health care, financial and community entitlements; caregiver-directed information to enhance their support; explanations about differences in health care approaches between survivors' original and adopted countries; and acknowledgment of survivorship diversity within CALD groups.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Immigrant cancer survivors' additional requirements to native survivors likely reflect challenges in dealing with foreign environments and varied levels of acculturation within group members. Identification of immigrant cancer survivorship issues may support development of targeted resources for promoting survivors' self-care and capacity for finding, choosing, and using existing support options.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cancer Experiences Research, Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, St Andrews Place, East Melbourne, VIC, 3002, Australia.|Palliative Care Service, Cabrini Health, Malvern, Australia.|Caritas Christi Hospice, St Vincent's Hospital, Department of Medicine, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia.
authors.forename: Clare
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: O'Callaghan
authors.affiliation: Department of Cancer Experiences Research, Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, St Andrews Place, East Melbourne, VIC, 3002, Australia.|Department of Psychology, Swinburne University, Melbourne, VIC, Australia.|Sir Peter MacCallum Department of Oncology, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, Australia.
authors.forename: Penelope
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Schofield
authors.affiliation: Psycho-oncology Co-operative Research Group, the University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia.|School of Psychology, the University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia.
authors.forename: Phyllis
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Butow
authors.affiliation: Australian Cancer Survivorship Centre-a Richard Pratt legacy, Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, Melbourne, VIC, Australia.
authors.forename: Linda
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Nolte
authors.affiliation: Psycho-oncology Co-operative Research Group, the University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia.|School of Psychology, the University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia.
authors.forename: Melanie
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Price
authors.affiliation: Australian Cancer Survivorship Centre-a Richard Pratt legacy, Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, Melbourne, VIC, Australia.
authors.forename: Spiri
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Tsintziras
authors.affiliation: Psycho-oncology Co-operative Research Group, the University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia.|School of Psychology, the University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia.
authors.forename: Ming
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sze
authors.affiliation: Psycho-oncology Co-operative Research Group, the University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia.
authors.forename: Thida
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Thein
authors.affiliation: Chinese Cancer Society of Victoria, Box Hill, VIC, Australia.
authors.forename: Dorothy
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Yiu
authors.affiliation: Psycho-oncology Co-operative Research Group, the University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia.
authors.forename: Shab
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Mireskandari
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Oncology, Prince of Wales Hospital, Sydney, Australia.|Prince of Wales Clinical School, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia.
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Goldstein
authors.affiliation: Department of Cancer Experiences Research, Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, St Andrews Place, East Melbourne, VIC, 3002, Australia. michael.jefford@petermac.org.|Sir Peter MacCallum Department of Oncology, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, Australia. michael.jefford@petermac.org.|Australian Cancer Survivorship Centre-a Richard Pratt legacy, Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, Melbourne, VIC, Australia. michael.jefford@petermac.org.
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Jefford
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D044466:Asian People / Q000208:ethnology; D017028:Caregivers; D003469:Culture; D003695:Delivery of Health Care; D059026:Diagnostic Self Evaluation; D054242:Emigrants and Immigrants / Q000523:psychology; D005006:Ethnicity; D017144:Focus Groups; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000208:ethnology / Q000523:psychology*; D009517:New South Wales / Q000208:ethnology; D010353:Patient Education as Topic; D036301:Qualitative Research; D012648:Self Care; D017741:Survivors / Q000523:psychology*; D014739:Victoria / Q000208:ethnology; D044465:White People / Q000208:ethnology
keywords: CALD; Cancer; Culture; Immigrants; Multi-culturalism; Survivors