Managing psychosocial issues faced by young women with breast cancer at the time of diagnosis and during active treatment

Sara Fernandes-Taylor, Taiwo Adesoye, Joan R. Bloom

Research output: Contribution to journalReview articlepeer-review

24 Scopus citations

Abstract

Purpose of review This review examines recent literature on the psychosocial needs of and interventions for young women. We focus on the active treatment period given the toxicity of treatment, the incidence of anxiety, and depressive symptoms in these women during treatment. This review summarizes research relevant to addressing their social and emotional concerns. Recent findings Young women undergoing treatment for breast cancer remain understudied despite unique needs. Psychoeducational interventions help to relieve symptoms and emotional distress during treatment, but effects do not appear to persist over the longer term. In the clinical context, the performance of prognosticrisk prediction models in this population is poor. Surgical decision-making is often driven by fear of recurrence and body image rather than prognosis, and decision aids may help young women to synthesize information to preserve their role in the treatment process. Summary First, shared decision-making, second, balancing body image, fear of recurrence, and recommended treatment, and third, palliative care for metastasis are essential research priorities for the clinical setting. In the larger social context, unique family/partner dynamics as well as financial and insurance concerns warrant particular attention in this population.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)279-284
Number of pages6
JournalCurrent opinion in supportive and palliative care
Volume9
Issue number3
DOIs
StatePublished - Sep 1 2015
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • Breast cancer treatment
  • Psychosocial
  • Shared decision making
  • Young women

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Oncology
  • Oncology(nursing)
  • Critical Care and Intensive Care Medicine

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