Multifactorial breast cancer survivorship care.

Increasing numbers and longevity of cancer survivors has furthered our insight into the factors affecting their health outcomes, suggesting that multiple factors play a role (e.g., effects of cancer treatments and health behaviors). Emotional and physical symptoms may not always receive sufficient attention. In this short narrative review highlighting recent literature, we describe the most common physical and emotional symptoms of breast cancer survivors aged 50 years and older and outline a multidisciplinary symptom management approach, regardless of symptom etiology

Perspectives of postmenopausal breast cancer survivors on adjuvant endocrine therapy-related symptoms.

PURPOSE: To conduct an investigation of women's experiences related to taking AET and managing AET-related symptoms. DESIGN: Qualitative. SETTING: Main campus of the University of Pittsburgh. SAMPLE: Four groups with a total of 14 breast cancer survivors, aged ≥ 50 years with AET-related symptoms. METHODS: Semi-structured discussion guides were used to elicit recollections of conversations with health care providers about starting AET, symptom experiences, symptom management, and suggestions for improving management. Audiotaped discussions were transcribed and analyzed to identify themes. FINDINGS: Women reported that initially AET was not viewed as a choice, but rather as the necessary next step to save their lives. After starting AET, women experienced difficulties making sense of, communicating about, and managing unanticipated AET-related symptoms. Women who experienced persistently bothersome symptoms began weighing the pros and cons of AET in order to decide whether to continue treatment. CONCLUSIONS: Focus group findings suggest multiple opportunities to better prepare patients for AET and to improve assessment and management of AET-related symptoms. IMPLICATIONS FOR NURSING: exploring AET-related symptom experiences, nurses may be able to promote AET adherence in breast cancer survivors, aged ≥ 50 years