Cancer Needs Assessment For Breast Cancer Survivors in Eastern North Carolina

Abstract

A cancer survivor is any person who has been diagnosed with cancer starting from the time of diagnosis through the remaining time of life. The transition to survivorship following cancer treatment is often faced with many challenges that lead to long term physical effects, psychological distress and issues in other areas that affect the quality of life for a survivor. There are limited studies that assess needs specific to cancer survivors, limiting the availability of validated instruments to understand this understudied area. Young women and minority breast cancer survivors are more likely to experience problems with weight gain or loss, paying for follow-up care or treatment, issues with their relationships, emotional related stress, and receiving information about available cancer care resources. The purpose of this study is to conduct a needs assessment to expand our knowledge regarding unmet needs of breast cancer survivors and identify local cancer-care resources in eastern North Carolina (ENC). This will be done by using a validated quantitative assessment to explore the unmet needs of breast cancer survivors in ENC, with a specific focus on young and minority breast cancer survivors. In addition, I will be conducting a resource needs assessment to identify local cancer-care resources, strengths and weakness of these resources, awareness of cancer-care resources among survivors, and potential gaps in services. In conducting this study, I will work alongside my mentor, Dr. Essie Torres, to develop a needs assessment that will assess unmet needs within the following areas: coping with emotional effects of cancer, financial burden due to cancer care, physical functioning, relationship and emotional issues, needs related to survivorship care plans and follow-up care, daily living, barriers in accessing cancer care services, and the best methods for accessing existing cancer care services. The survey will be administered in person to approximately 40 breast cancer survivors. The resource needs assessment will be administered to local agencies and organizations that offer cancer care resources in ENC to gain a better understanding of the services offered and cancer survivor populations reached. This study will expand our current understanding of lived experiences of breast cancer survivors and identify problem areas for targeting support and cancer care services available to improve the survivorship experience and quality of life.