Changes in participation for young women after breast cancer diagnosis and treatment: a qualitative study
Abstract Background Though there is increasing attention to the experiences of young breast cancer survivors, there is a need to further examine participation changes for this population after active treatment. This study aimed to examine how person-environment interactions mediate young breast canc...
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| Language: | English |
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BMC
2025-05-01
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| Series: | BMC Women's Health |
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12905-025-03814-z |
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| author | Amy Roder McArthur Susan Magasi Tamara Hamlish Cassandra A. Winters Joy Hammel |
| author_facet | Amy Roder McArthur Susan Magasi Tamara Hamlish Cassandra A. Winters Joy Hammel |
| author_sort | Amy Roder McArthur |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background Though there is increasing attention to the experiences of young breast cancer survivors, there is a need to further examine participation changes for this population after active treatment. This study aimed to examine how person-environment interactions mediate young breast cancer survivors’ participation in life, focusing on features of disability within breast cancer survivorship. Methods This qualitative study utilized a series of two semi-structured interviews to explore the experiences of nine women diagnosed with early-stage breast cancer at or below the age of forty-five. Interpretative phenomenological analysis was used to analyze interviews. Results Three cross-case themes were identified: (1) Nothing untouched: changes in self (2), Cancer is “not over”: the influences of social environment on survivorship, and (3) Gaps in services and supports: systems level influences on participation. Conclusions Participants’ participation changes were shaped by environmental factors, such as the complexity of healthcare system navigation. Participants pointed to a need to connect young survivors with services and supports to improve opportunities for participation in daily life following breast cancer diagnosis and treatment. This aligns with conceptualizations of disability that identify the environment as a major driver of restricted participation for disabled people. Late effects of breast cancer impact participation and should be routinely addressed as part of cancer and survivorship care. Acknowledging disability as part of breast cancer survivorship can encourage breast cancer survivors to discuss their experiences openly and to ensure they receive the supports needed to participate fully in life. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-98bed70f36ad46d9aecb3e87fb0ff2ff |
| institution | DOAJ |
| issn | 1472-6874 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-05-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | BMC Women's Health |
| spelling | doaj-art-98bed70f36ad46d9aecb3e87fb0ff2ff2025-08-20T03:16:47ZengBMCBMC Women's Health1472-68742025-05-0125111210.1186/s12905-025-03814-zChanges in participation for young women after breast cancer diagnosis and treatment: a qualitative studyAmy Roder McArthur0Susan Magasi1Tamara Hamlish2Cassandra A. Winters3Joy Hammel4Department of Disability and Human Development, University of Illinois ChicagoDepartment of Disability and Human Development, University of Illinois ChicagoDepartment of Medicine, Division of Academic Internal Medicine, University of Illinois ChicagoDepartment of Disability and Human Development, University of Illinois ChicagoDepartment of Disability and Human Development, University of Illinois ChicagoAbstract Background Though there is increasing attention to the experiences of young breast cancer survivors, there is a need to further examine participation changes for this population after active treatment. This study aimed to examine how person-environment interactions mediate young breast cancer survivors’ participation in life, focusing on features of disability within breast cancer survivorship. Methods This qualitative study utilized a series of two semi-structured interviews to explore the experiences of nine women diagnosed with early-stage breast cancer at or below the age of forty-five. Interpretative phenomenological analysis was used to analyze interviews. Results Three cross-case themes were identified: (1) Nothing untouched: changes in self (2), Cancer is “not over”: the influences of social environment on survivorship, and (3) Gaps in services and supports: systems level influences on participation. Conclusions Participants’ participation changes were shaped by environmental factors, such as the complexity of healthcare system navigation. Participants pointed to a need to connect young survivors with services and supports to improve opportunities for participation in daily life following breast cancer diagnosis and treatment. This aligns with conceptualizations of disability that identify the environment as a major driver of restricted participation for disabled people. Late effects of breast cancer impact participation and should be routinely addressed as part of cancer and survivorship care. Acknowledging disability as part of breast cancer survivorship can encourage breast cancer survivors to discuss their experiences openly and to ensure they receive the supports needed to participate fully in life.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12905-025-03814-zBreast cancerSurvivorshipParticipationLasting effectsQualitative researchDisability |
| spellingShingle | Amy Roder McArthur Susan Magasi Tamara Hamlish Cassandra A. Winters Joy Hammel Changes in participation for young women after breast cancer diagnosis and treatment: a qualitative study BMC Women's Health Breast cancer Survivorship Participation Lasting effects Qualitative research Disability |
| title | Changes in participation for young women after breast cancer diagnosis and treatment: a qualitative study |
| title_full | Changes in participation for young women after breast cancer diagnosis and treatment: a qualitative study |
| title_fullStr | Changes in participation for young women after breast cancer diagnosis and treatment: a qualitative study |
| title_full_unstemmed | Changes in participation for young women after breast cancer diagnosis and treatment: a qualitative study |
| title_short | Changes in participation for young women after breast cancer diagnosis and treatment: a qualitative study |
| title_sort | changes in participation for young women after breast cancer diagnosis and treatment a qualitative study |
| topic | Breast cancer Survivorship Participation Lasting effects Qualitative research Disability |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12905-025-03814-z |
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