Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Health-related quality of life in a multiethnic sample of breast cancer survivors

  • Published:
Annals of Behavioral Medicine

Abstract

Background: Little is known about the experiences of women from varying ethnic groups following treatment for breast cancer.Purpose: This study provides a comprehensive description of heath-related quality of life (HRQL) and identifies problem areas and predictive factors for a multiethnic sample.Methods: Six hundred twenty-one breast cancer survivors from 2 major cities participated within 5 years of their diagnosis. Participants were African Americans, Latinas, Asian Americans, and Whites. Patients filled out questionnaire packets comprising standardized instruments related to HRQL, psychological adjustment, cancer-related treatment, and demographic variables. Data were analyzed using 2 methods: (a) observation of findings prior to controlling for demographic and treatment variables and (b) observation of findings after controlling for variables confounded with ethnicity.Results: Findings indicate that most women experienced good HRQL. Group differences revealed that African Americans found more meaning in life as a result of having breast cancer, and Latinas reported more physical symptoms. Age predicted aspects of HRQL for African Americans and Whites.Conclusions: This study comprehensively assessed HRQL following breast cancer for ethnic minority women. Most breast cancer survivors in this study reported levels of HRQL comparable to established norms. However, some quality of life impediments surfaced in particular groups. Researchers should not assume that predictive models of breast cancer HRQL are the same across ethnic groups.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Meyerowitz BE, Richardson J, Hudson S, Leedham B: Ethnicity and cancer outcomes: Behavioral and psychosocial considerations.Psychological Bulletin. 1998,123:47–70.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  2. Whitfield KE, Weidner G, Clark R, Anderson NB: Sociodemographic diversity and behavioral medicine.Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology. 2002,70:463–481.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  3. American Cancer Society:Cancer Facts and Figures—2000. Atlanta, GA: Author, 2000.

    Google Scholar 

  4. Ashing-Giwa K: Quality of life and psychosocial outcomes in long-term survivors of breast cancer: A focus on African-American women.Journal of Psychosocial Oncology. 1999,17(3/4):47–62.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  5. Gotay CC, Holup JL, Pagano I: Ethnic differences in quality of life among early breast and prostate cancer survivors.Psycho-Oncology. 2002,11:103–113.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  6. Northouse LL, Caffey M, Deichelbohrer L, et al.: The quality of life of African American women with breast cancer.Research in Nursing and Health. 1999,22:449–460.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  7. Ashing-Giwa K, Ganz PA, Petersen L: Quality of life of African-American and White long term breast carcinoma survivors.Cancer. 1999,85:418–426.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  8. Bourjolly JN, Kerson TS, Nuamah IF: A comparison of social functioning among Black and White women with breast cancer.Social Work in Health Care. 1999,28(3):1–20.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  9. Wyatt GE, Desmond KA, Ganz PA, et al.: Sexual functioning and intimacy in African American and White breast cancer survivors: A descriptive study.Women’s Health: Research on Gender, Behavior, and Policy. 1998,4: 385–405.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  10. Spencer SM, Lehman JM, Wynings C, et al.: Concerns about breast cancer and relations to psychosocial well-being in a multiethnic sample of early-stage patients.Health Psychology. 1999,18:159–168.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  11. Baquet CR, Commiskey P: Socioeconomic factors and breast carcinoma in multicultural women.Cancer. 2000,88:1256–1264.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  12. Schag CAC, Ganz PA, Polinsky ML, et al.: Characteristics of women at risk for psychosocial distress in the year after breast cancer.Journal of Clinical Oncology. 1993,11:783–793.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  13. Brinton LA, Benichou J, Gammon MD, et al.: Ethnicity and variation in breast cancer incidence.International Journal of Cancer. 1997,73:349–355.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  14. Biffl WL, Myers A, Franciose RJ, Gonzalez RJ, Darnell D: Is breast cancer in young Latinas a different disease?American Journal of Surgery. 2001,182:596–600.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  15. Siegel K, Gluhoski V, Gorey E: Age-related distress among young women with breast cancer.Journal of Psychosocial Oncology. 1999,17:1–20.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  16. Wenzel LB, Fairclough DL, Brady MJ, et al.: Age-related differences in the quality of life of breast carcinoma patients after treatment.Cancer. 1999,86:1768–1774.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  17. Muss HB, Hunter CP, Wesley M, et al.: Treatment plans for Black and White women with Stage II node-positive breast cancer: The National Cancer Institute Black/White Cancer Survival Study experience.Cancer. 1992,70:2460–2467.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  18. Lee MM, Lin SS, Wrensch MR, Adler SR, Eisenberg D: Alternative therapies used by women with breast cancer in four ethnic populations.Journal of the National Cancer Institute. 2000,92:42–47.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  19. Ganz PA, Schag CAC, Lee JJ, Polinsky ML, Tan SJ: Breast conservation versus mastectomy: Is there a difference in psychological adjustment or quality of life in the year after surgery?Cancer. 1992,69:1729–1738.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  20. Ganz PA, Rowland JH, Desmond K, Meyerowitz BE, Wyatt GE: Life after breast cancer: Understandingwomen’s health-related quality of life and sexual functioning.Journal of Clinical Oncology. 1998,16: 501–514.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  21. Ganz PA, Desmond K, Belin TR, Meyerowitz BE, Rowland JH: Predictors of sexual health in women after a breast cancer diagnosis.Journal of Clinical Oncology. 1999,17:2371–2380.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  22. Hays RD, Sherbourne CD, Mazel RM: The RAND 36-Item Health Survey 1.0.Health Economics. 1993,2:217–227.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  23. Schag CC, Heinrich RL, Ganz PA: Cancer inventory of problem situations: An instrument for assessing cancer patients’rehabilitation needs.Journal of Psychosocial Oncology. 1983,1:11–24.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  24. Ganz PA, Day R,Ware Jr. JE, Redmond C, Fisher B: Base-line quality of life assessment in the National Surgical Adjuvant Breast and Bowel Project Cancer Prevention trial.Journal of the National Cancer Institute. 1995,87:1372–1382.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  25. Bower JE, Meyerowitz BE, Desmond KA, et al.: Perceptions of positive meaning and vulnerability following breast cancer.Unpublished manuscript.

  26. Tedeschi RG, Calhoun LG: The Posttraumatic Growth Inventory: Measuring the positive legacy of trauma.Journal of Traumatic Stress. 1996,9:455–472.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  27. Radloff LS: The CES-D scale: A self-report depression scale for research in the general population.Applied Psychological Measurement. 1977,1:385–401.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  28. Stewart AL, Ware Jr. JE, Sherbourne CD, Wells KB: Psychological distress/well-being and cognitive functioning measures. In Stewart AL, Ware Jr. JE (eds),Measuring Functioning and Well-Being: The Medical Outcomes Study Approach. Durham, NC: Duke University Press, 1992, 102–142.

    Google Scholar 

  29. Veit CT, Ware Jr. JE: The structure of psychological distress and well-being in the general population.Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology. 1983,51:730–742.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  30. Sherbourne CD, Stewart AL: The MOS social support survey.Social Science Medicine. 1991,32:705–714.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  31. Spanier GB: Measuring dyadic adjustment: New scales for assessing the quality of marriage and similar dyads.Journal of Marriage and the Family. 1976,398:15–28.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  32. Busby DM, Crane DR, Larson JH: A revision of the Dyadic Adjustment Scale for use with distressed and nondistressed couples: Construct hierarchy and multidimensional scales.Journal of Marital and Family Therapy. 1995,21:289–308.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  33. Hays WH:Statistics (3rd Ed.) Fort Worth, TX: Harcourt Brace College, 1994.

    Google Scholar 

  34. Pedhazur EJ:Multiple Regression in Behavioral Research (3rd Ed.). Fort Worth, TX: Harcourt Brace College, 1997.

    Google Scholar 

  35. Ware Jr. JE:SF-36 Health Survey: Manual and Interpretation Guide. Boston: Health Institute, New England Medical Center, 1993.

    Google Scholar 

  36. Kaplan MS, Marks G: Adverse effects of acculturation: Psychological distress among Mexican American young adults.Social Science and Medicine. 1990,31:1313–1319.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  37. Meyerowitz BE, Formenti SC, Ell KO, Leedham B: Depression among Latina cervical cancer patients.Journal of Social and Clinical Psychology. 2000,19:352–371.

    Google Scholar 

  38. Schover LR, Yetman RJ, Tuason LJ: Partial mastectomy and breast reconstruction: A comparison of their effects on psychosocial adjustment, body image, and sexuality.Cancer. 1995,75:54–64.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Psychology, University of Southern California, SGM 516, MC 1061, 90089-1061, Los Angeles, CA

    Antoinette S. Giedzinska M.A. & Beth E. Meyerowitz Ph.D.

  2. University of California, Los Angeles

    Patricia A. Ganz M.D.

  3. National Institutes of Health, National Cancer Institute, USA

    Julia H. Rowland Ph.D.

Authors
  1. Antoinette S. Giedzinska M.A.
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Beth E. Meyerowitz Ph.D.
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Patricia A. Ganz M.D.
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Julia H. Rowland Ph.D.
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Beth E. Meyerowitz Ph.D..

Additional information

This research was supported by Public Health Service Grant R01 CA63028 from the National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health. P. A. Ganz is also supported by an American Cancer Society Clinical Research Professorship.

About this article

Cite this article

Giedzinska, A.S., Meyerowitz, B.E., Ganz, P.A. et al. Health-related quality of life in a multiethnic sample of breast cancer survivors. ann. behav. med. 28, 39–51 (2004). https://doi.org/10.1207/s15324796abm2801_6

Download citation

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1207/s15324796abm2801_6

Keywords

Search

Navigation