Current Research:
Minority Samples
Understanding the Experience of African American and Hispanic Breast Cancer Survivors
Mekhala Samsi, Ph.D., Diane Bailey, Ph.D., Maggie Peter, Consuelo Arbona, Ph.D., Adrianne Anderson, Steve Caloudas, & Liz Ross
Importance
- Statics document a consistent increase in the 5-year survival rate of minority breast cancer survivors. The need to address quality of life issues of minority breast cancer survivors is great.
- Unfortunately, a comprehensive review of the literature reveals a serious lack of research focusing on quality of life for minority breast cancer survivors, primarily because published articles include ‘samples of convenience’, which are comprised mostly of Caucasian women.
- This research will set the stage for additional research with minority cancer survivors and their families and facilitate the designing of important interventions and public policies that impact this underserved group.
Goals and Findings
- Examining perceived quality of life in African American and Hispanic breast cancer survivors in relation to a control group of age-matched peers who have not had cancer.
- Studying a broad survey of important constructs including quality of life, distress, coping strategies, social support, positive consequences, self-esteem and body image, control beliefs and stable personality.
- Comparing the breast cancer experience for African American and Hispanic women to the existing literature, which is almost exclusively based upon Caucasian samples, recognizing the necessity that quality of life for all breast cancer survivors must be contextualized in terms of age-matched and ethnically-matched peers who have not had cancer.
- Providing background to document specific needs of different populations of breast cancer survivors for future decisions and successful implementation of more effective and targeted services, as well as educational and mental health interventions – both through cancer services and public health policy programs.
