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“It is not just any pill”—Women’s experiences of endocrine therapy after breast cancer surgery
Author(s) -
Ahlstedt Karlsson Susanne,
Wallengren Catarina,
Olofsson Bagge Roger,
Henoch Ingela
Publication year - 2019
Publication title -
european journal of cancer care
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.849
H-Index - 67
eISSN - 1365-2354
pISSN - 0961-5423
DOI - 10.1111/ecc.13009
Subject(s) - medicine , breast cancer , feeling , qualitative research , focus group , pill , abandonment (legal) , tamoxifen , cancer , mastectomy , family medicine , disease , hormone therapy , gynecology , nursing , social psychology , psychology , social science , marketing , sociology , political science , law , business
Objective For patients diagnosed with hormone‐receptor‐positive breast cancer, endocrine therapy (ET) is usually prescribed to reduce recurrence and mortality rates. Despite the benefits, compliance with treatment varies. The aim of this study was to provide qualitative data about women's experiences with ET after breast cancer surgery. Methods Twenty‐five women, treated with Tamoxifen after breast cancer surgery, were interviewed in seven focus groups. Six open‐ended questions were used to explore their experiences. The interviews were recorded, transcribed verbatim and analysed using inductive content analysis. Results The analysis resulted in three categories that described the women's experiences: the treatment “creates discomfort”; “promotes levels of management”; and “causes feelings of abandonment”. Women's experiences of treatment could at first glance be seen as positive, as perceived protection, but after further analysis, a deeper meaning was identified: protection with reservation. When experiencing discomfort, the women tried to manage the situation, although the mode of management sometimes varied. The women reported that they needed support, but when the support did not appear, they felt as though they had been abandoned. Moreover, knowledge about side effects became an obstacle, as it could create fear of more severe symptoms. They also described that their disease was perceived by healthcare professionals as “cancer light”. Conclusion The information needs to be customised specifically to each person.