Perceptions and Barriers of Survivorship Care in Asia: Perceptions From Asian Breast Cancer Survivors

Abstract

Purpose: With the long-term goal to optimize post-treatment cancer care in Asia, we conducted a qualitative study to gather in-depth descriptions from multiethnic Asian breast cancer survivors on their perceptions and experiences of cancer survivorship and their perceived barriers to post-treatment follow-up.

Methods: Twenty-four breast cancer survivors in Singapore participated in six structured focus group discussions. The focus group discussions were voice recorded, transcribed verbatim, and analyzed by thematic analysis.

Results: Breast cancer survivors were unfamiliar with and disliked the term "survivorship," because it implies that survivors had undergone hardship during their treatment. Cognitive impairment and peripheral neuropathy were physical symptoms that bothered survivors the most, and many indicated that they experienced emotional distress during survivorship, for which they turned to religion and peers as coping strategies. Survivors indicated lack of consultation time and fear of unplanned hospitalization as main barriers to optimal survivorship care. Furthermore, survivors indicated that they preferred receipt of survivorship care at the specialty cancer center.

Conclusion: Budding survivorship programs in Asia must take survivor perspectives into consideration to ensure that survivorship care is fully optimized within the community.

Conflict of interest statement

The following represents disclosure information provided by authors of this manuscript. All relationships are considered compensated. Relationships are self-held unless noted. I = Immediate Family Member, Inst = My Institution. Relationships may not relate to the subject matter of this manuscript. For more information about ASCO's conflict of interest policy, please refer to www.asco.org/rwc or ascopubs.org/jco/site/ifc. Alexandre ChanHonoraria: Merck Sharp & Dohme Consulting or Advisory Role: Merck Sharp & Dohme Speakers' Bureau: Merck Sharp & Dohme Travel, Accommodations, Expenses: Merck Sharp & DohmeZheng Kang LumNo relationship to discloseTerence NgNo relationship to discloseTewodros EyobNo relationship to discloseXiao Jun WangNo relationship to discloseJung-woo ChaeNo relationship to discloseSreemanee DorajooNo relationship to discloseMaung ShweNo relationship to discloseYan Xiang GanNo relationship to discloseRose FokNo relationship to discloseKiley Wei-Jen LohNo relationship to discloseYee Pin TanNo relationship to discloseGilbert FanNo relationship to disclose