Patient perspectives on the causes of breast cancer: a qualitative study on the relationship between stress, trauma, and breast cancer development

Trauma-Informed Approaches in the Context of Cancer Care in Canada and the United States: A Scoping Review

Cancer is predominantly understood as a physical condition, but the experience of cancer is often psychologically challenging and has potential to be traumatic. Some people also experience re-traumatization during cancer because of previous, non-cancer-related trauma, such as intimate partner violence or adverse childhood experiences. A trauma-informed approach to care (TIC) has potential to enhance care and outcomes; however, literature regarding cancer-related TIC is limited. Accordingly, the objective of this scoping review was to identify what is known from existing literature about trauma-informed approaches to cancer care in Canada and the United States. A scoping review (using Arksey and O'Malley's (2005) framework) was conducted. The PsycINFO, CINAHL, MEDLINE (Ovid), Embase (Ovid), and Scopus databases, key journals, organizations, and reference lists were searched in February 2022. In total, 124 sources met the review criteria and 13 were included in the final review. Analysis included a basic descriptive summary and deductive thematic analysis using conceptual categories. Theorizations, applications, effectiveness, and feasibility of TIC were compiled, and gaps in TIC and recommendations for TIC were identified. TIC appeared to be growing in popularity and promising for improving cancer outcomes; however, gaps in the theorization, effectiveness, and feasibility of TIC persisted. Many recommendations for the application of TIC were not issued based on a strong body of evidence due to a lack of available literature. Further research is required to develop evidence-based recommendations regarding TIC related to cancer. A systematic review and meta-analysis would be warranted upon literature proliferation.

Psychosocial Adjustment Experiences Among Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma Survivors: A Qualitative Study

BACKGROUND

Nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) has serious effects on the daily lives and psychosocial adjustment of survivors. In particular, psychosocial problems are a prominent concern.

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this study was to understand the lived experiences of NPC survivors regarding psychosocial adjustment.

METHODS

A qualitative design using individual semistructured interviews was conducted with 20 NPC survivors. Each participant was asked open-ended questions about their lived experience with psychosocial adjustment. The data were then subjected to thematic analysis.

RESULTS

The following 4 themes, which had subthemes, were identified from the data: (1) grappling with discomforts (symptoms distress of late toxicities, impaired body image, and returning-to-work restrictions), (2) struggling with uncertainty (disease attribution with self-blame, contradictory rehabilitation information, fear of cancer recurrence, and distance from medical staff), (3) changing social patterns (special favors, social isolation, and social discrimination), and (4) cultivating positive change (healthy lifestyle and positive mindset).

CONCLUSIONS

Nasopharyngeal carcinoma survivors experience many obstacles, as well as positive changes, during psychosocial adjustment. This study highlights the pressing need to consider NPC survivors' concerns about their psychosocial adjustment.

IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE

Medical staff should provide NPC survivors with sufficient rehabilitation information to help them deal with possible late toxicities and mitigate their uncertainty and misunderstanding. Effective public education measures are needed to address misunderstandings about cancer in Chinese cultural settings.

What Causes Cancer in Women with a gBRCA Pathogenic Variant? Counselees' Causal Attributions and Associations with Perceived Control

Laypersons have a strong need to explain critical life events, such as the development of an illness. Expert explanations do not always match the beliefs of patients. We therefore assessed causal attributions made by women with a pathogenic germline variant in BRCA1/2 (gBRCA1/2-PV), both with and without a cancer diagnosis. We assumed that attributions would be associated with the control experience. We conducted a cross-sectional study of N = 101 women with a gBRCA1/2-PV (mean age 43.3 ± 10.9). Women answered self-report questionnaires on perceived causes and control. Most women (97%) named genes as a causal factor for the development of cancer. Surprisingly, the majority of women also named stress and health behavior (both 81%), environment (80%), and personality (61%). Women with a cancer diagnosis tended to endorse more causes. The attributions to personality (ρ = 0.39, p < 0.01) health behavior (ρ = 0.44, p < 0.01), and environment (ρ = 0.22, p < 0.05) were significantly associated with personal control, whereas attribution to genes showed a small, albeit significant association with treatment control (ρ = 0.20, p < 0.05). Discussing causal beliefs in clinical counseling may provide a “window of opportunity” in which risk factors and health behaviors could be better addressed and individually targeted.