Negotiating cancer alone: A qualitative study exploring care experiences of racially and ethnically diverse women diagnosed with breast cancer during COVID-19.
Isabel Martinez LealChiara AcquatiAnastasia RogovaTzuan A ChenShahnjayla K ConnorsPooja AgrawalLorna H McNeillLorraine R ReitzelPublished in: Journal of health psychology (2023)
COVID-19 has critically impacted cancer care services including reduced screenings, diagnoses, and surgeries; particularly among Black and Latina/x women who already suffer worse outcomes. This qualitative study explored the care experiences of a diverse sample of breast cancer survivors ( N = 21; 7 Black, 4 Hispanic, 10 White) undergoing treatment during the pandemic via online semi-structured interviews. Grounded theory analysis yielded the core category " negotiating cancer alone ," that included: (1) psychological distress, negotiating the cancer trajectory in isolation; (2) provider/healthcare system diagnostic and treatment delays; (3) heightened anxiety about treatment delays causing cancer progression; (4) supportive care limitations; and (5) disparate experiences of cancer care disruptions. Black and Latina/x women described greater delays in care, financial challenges, treatment complications, and insurance limitations than White women. The study identifies cancer patients' pandemic-related psychological, healthcare system, and health equity challenges and suggests recommendations to support their increased psychological needs during oncologic care disruptions.
Keyphrases
- healthcare
- palliative care
- papillary thyroid
- sars cov
- affordable care act
- mental health
- polycystic ovary syndrome
- primary care
- squamous cell
- pregnancy outcomes
- prostate cancer
- gene expression
- childhood cancer
- squamous cell carcinoma
- dna methylation
- adipose tissue
- lymph node metastasis
- climate change
- robot assisted
- health information
- minimally invasive
- depressive symptoms
- clinical practice